Representation by Martin Paul Brown
- Date submitted
- 17 February 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
The proposal is one of, currently four, all of which plan to utilise farmland, primarily arable, to produce energy using photovoltaic technologies. Solar has a part to play in the UK energy mix, but the large area proposed will remove much needed arable land from meaningful production for forty or more years, which should not be regarded as temporary. The potential loss of arable land will have a knock-on effect on local businesses supplying agricultural machinery, fertiliser, seed and other associated goods. Particularly following the wake up call following the invasion of Ukraine the United Kingdom's food security should not be compromised by large scale reductions in productive farmland to an inefficient means of power production. Battery storage systems should be sited in industrial areas with appropriate safety mitigations and ready access for first responders in the event of incident. The effects of fire in faulty or damaged lithium battery packs can be spectacular and difficult to deal with. Particularly in winter, the panels proposed are likely to be visible from the B1398 Cliff Road or other high ground for a distance of around 25km. An area in a triangle between Lincoln, Gainsborough and Kirton-in-Lindsey stands to be totally dominated by solar panels. The proposal should not be considered in isolation, but along with the Gate Burton, West Burton and Tillbridge schemes as one development, in order that the full magnitude and effect on the area, residents and visitors can be appreciated, we are not simply receptors for noise and glare.