Representation by James Allan
- Date submitted
- 28 April 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
There are a number of reasons for my objection to this proposal. Solar power is a legitimate alternative source of renewable energy, but as with everything there are trade offs. I could support a solar proposal that was being built on brown field or industrial sites, but when it is proposed to be built on good quality agricultural land then to my mind this is clearly a major negative. Energy security is a prime concern, but so is food security. The UK already imports more than half of its food, and the continued reduction in good quality agricultural land is reducing not enhancing our country’s ability to feed ourselves. Recent events in Ukraine highlight the delicate balance of energy and food production. Also, solar power developers make very big claims for supply, but the reality is always a fraction of the headline claims. Ie a 500 MW project will yield typically 10% of that due to nighttime and weather in the UK, and the battery technology currently available is not adequate to optimise the available power. Solar power is produced when the grid needs it least, and the battery technology only holds up to 2 hours of energy. Therefore it will never help to balance out the grid demands at critical times. I also object to the concentration of proposed projects in the immediate area. We currently have 4 possible developments within a few miles of where I live utilising some 10,000 acres of good quality agricultural land. This will in effect industrialise the countryside I moved to live in. We are looking at Cottam, Gate Burton, West Burton and Tillbridge solar projects being built in the immediate area. I don’t believe the consultation process has been robust enough to allow the local constituents to realise the impact on their local area and on their local amenity of living in the countryside. I also believe the environmental impacts of the manufacturing, transport and installation of the proposed developments. I understand that the panels will be manufactured in China, potentially using slave labour, and then shipped by sea to the UK and delivered by road to the sites.(not to mention the inevitable decommissioning and landfill disposal at the end of the life of the development). The UK government needs to have clear policies on energy and food security taking account of the complexities of the balances.