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Representation by Fillingham Parish Meeting (Fillingham Parish Meeting)

Date submitted
4 June 2023
Submitted by
Members of the public/businesses
  1. Fillingham Parish Meeting (FPM) is against the proposed West Burton Solar Project large-scale development, because of its limited contribution to decarbonisation and the adverse consequences arising from using land in this way. 2. The Public Consultation was so insufficient and inadequate as to be ineffective and the level of general understanding in the community of the scale and impact of the schemes remains very low. 3. The scale of the IGP West Burton Solar Project would change the visual aspect and character of the region, which would undoubtedly be dominated by solar fields – at 4.5m panels could never be adequately screened by hedgerows (at all) or by trees (for many years), ruining much loved views, walks and historic landscapes. 4. The unprecedented situation of the four massive NSIP solar projects within such a close area means that to properly understand the implications on the region, all the projects should be considered together by the Planning Inspectorate, i.e. Cottam Solar Project, West Burton Solar Project, Gate Burton Energy and Tillbridge Solar. 5. FPM is concerned that the scale of the WBSP will have a massively harmful impact on the health and wellbeing of residents, in particular their mental health, by removing visual amenity, changing views, and causing stress by destroying agricultural jobs and livelihoods, as well as disruption during construction and decommissioning. 6. As a small, rural community, Fillingham has few opportunities for employment and very few amenities – one of its few attractions is the open countryside landscape that it sits in. The scale of the WBSP would deny the village of this one key attribute and erode the attractiveness of the village and therefore the village’s capacity to sustain itself; driving some people away and serving to deter people from moving in – the village could die. 7. For many people living in and around Fillingham, the local network of footpaths, roads and bridleways provides their routes for recreation and exercise, such as cycling, walking, running and horse-riding – and the benefit of being in the fresh air, surrounded by greenery. Such benefit will be lost through the extensive development of the WBSP. 8. There are few employment opportunities within the immediate area of Fillingham, but the West Burton Solar Project will adversely impact agricultural jobs and provide few opportunities for livelihoods in their place. 9. Fillingham is part of an area of villages and agriculture that with a long history. Fillingham St Andrew’s church is referenced in the Domesday Book. The long heritage and character of the area would be shattered by development at the scale of the WBSP and other NSIP solar developments. 10. IGP repeatedly uses the technical definition of “temporary” to hide the nature of the project. Between construction, operation and decommissioning, a life cycle of c. 50 years does not reasonably constitute “temporary” in a human lifetime. The developer should be consistent and honest with the public about the lifetime of the scheme. 11. Existing habitats rich with birds of prey, owls and scarce farmland species, plus deer, brown hares and badgers will be disturbed through the massive scale of construction activities and material movements the West Burton Solar Project will require, and will be impacted through the project’s operational lifetime and decommissioning. 12. There is a real risk for a significant increase in water run-off from the huge surface area of solar panels, leading to increased risk of flooding, damage and isolation of properties and communities. 13. The largest road near Fillingham is a “B” road, and most others are single-track roads, which are wholly unsuitable to the large volumes of traffic movements necessary to construct and decommission the WBSP. 14. The fire safety and environmental risk arising from the failure of batteries is a concern, including how community safety and environmental integrity of wildlife and water systems would be ensured in an emergency. 15. Fillingham Parish Meeting is concerned that the standards the developer would be held to at the end of the life of the project are not clear. 16. Fillingham Parish Meeting is concerned that IGP has no track record of development at this scale, in particular to be able to fulfil the obligation for decommissioning and restoration of land at the end of the project lifecycle, which could leave the community with a significant liability to restore the land to a useful purpose. 17. The energy and decarbonisation benefits made by IGP for the West Burton Solar Project are oversimplified, overstated and misleading. 18. FPM is concerned that in the wake of major disruption to food supplies in recent years, displacing productive arable land in the UK with solar panels that can make such a limited contribution to the country’s energy needs, undermines the country’s ability to source food locally and maintain food security. 19. There are many and increasing demands on the use of land, and in a situation of increasing pressure on land use, the West Burton Solar Project represents a highly inefficient use of land for the region – as well as for the country. 20. Fillingham Parish Meeting has joined with other local parishes to oppose the West Burton Solar Project, as the benefits of the development do not outweigh the harms – and there are credible alternatives that have not been adequately pursued. 21. FPM believes that, given the pressure in the UK on land use, solar on commercial and domestic rooftops must be pursued as a matter of urgency before large areas of land are used for intermittent, low-load factor solar power.