Representation by James Gallagher
- Date submitted
- 30 April 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
My primary concern is that there are multiple applications being made for solar farms in Lincolnshire and each is being considered independently of others. This is unacceptable and there should be a county-wide plan establishing the what is the appropriate amount of agricultural land to be made available for solar farms. Lincolnshire is an agricultural county and, whilst it may be necessary to reallocate some agricultural land for solar farms as part of an overall green strategy, the total area proposed for all the developments appears to have an excessive impact on the county (e.g. in tourist attractiveness). Most importantly, it will have a significant impact upon the locally produced food supply for this country, requiring energy intensive transportation of replacement food and leaving the country vulnerable to outside forces (natural or political). A final point is that any new solar farms should have a full economic assessment of their construction - for example, I understand that the applicants have not indicated an intention to establish a supply chain policy that would result in British manufacture of the panels or use of British made steel rather than the use of foreign products with consequential damage to the balance of payments and missing the opportunity to support British manufacturing.