Representation by Peter Martin
- Date submitted
- 18 May 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
It is very misleading and wrong that the West Burton Solar Project is being considered in isolation. There are four projects, Cottam, West Burton, Gate Burton and Tillbridge Solar Farm Projects, all in close proximity to each other which together have a much more serious impact on the local area than any one of these will have individually. To consider and accept any one of these in isolation is completely wrong. I am a resident of Sturton by Stow. The Pre-Application consultation documentation was all distributed showing the locations separately. Looking at any individual project location makes them appear reasonable, but only after somebody other than the project companies put them all on the same map is it clear what a large area is involved. Sturton by Stow is encircled by these project sites. One of these projects might be acceptable but any more would be unreasonable for a small area. The West Burton Solar Project and the other solar projects also being prepared would change this quiet agricultural area in to a semi industrial landscape. The nature of the area will be changed for generations, possibly forever. Most residents have lived here a long time, many all their lives. It will be devastating for many. I don't believe that anybody who lives in a rural area would happily accept what is being proposed here if it were in their own area. These sites are valuable arable land that will be destroyed possibly for ever. I am very much in favour of renewable energy, but I also believe that there are better ways to produce it, for example tidal energy and wind farms. I would not object to wind turbines in these fields instead of solar panels. Although the views would be altered the landscape would remain intact, still be visible and usable for agriculture. If it is necessary to have solar panel farms, surely there are brownfield sites that could be used rather than arable farm land. It is a requirement of the applicable legislation that brown field sites should be considered, but it doesn't appear that this has happened. I walk and cycle a lot around the small lanes and footpaths in the area. This has been a huge benefit to both my physical and mental health. The introduction of so many solar panels will spoil my enjoyment of the countryside and affect me both physically and mentally. The idea that screening the panels from view would make them acceptable is ridiculous. If the panels can't be seen because there are screens, whatever they might be, the original landscape can not be seen. The choice is between panels and screens. The very fact that screens are considered as an acceptable alternative to the natural views is a clear indication that the people responsible don't understand the impact it will have or simply don't care. They should ask themselves why do people go for walks in the countryside. Nobody would bother if all they could see were solar panels or huge screens that are 4.5 metres high. These are commercial projects being constructed for profit. I can not see that any environmentalists have been involved in the preparation and planning. My concern is that the people driving this are only motivated financially, whether through investment or employment in the projects. They are unlikely to live in this area and quite likely not in rural areas. This makes me very sceptical that they would ever consider the effect on the local community above the need to complete the projects. The solar panels and batteries will be made in China. Large infrastructure projects should be using UK technology. The Chinese are still producing power from coal or oil. Raw materials and the finished products will be shipped round the world. When this is all taken into account will these panels have a significant net effect on carbon fuel consumption. Any oil used will probably be Russian and therefore support the Russian invasion of Ukraine. These solar panels will also have a huge effect on wildlife. This is going to destroy a very significant proportion of the natural habitat of the wildlife in the area. This will inevitably lead to a decline in wildlife populations and will add to the detrimental effect on the area. The bird population has already been declining and these solar panels will change the local environment to such an extent that birds may become very rare. The implementation of these four projects in such a relatively small rural area for principally commercial reasons is simply immoral. Nobody anywhere would want this change to an agricultural environment.