Representation by Clive Patchett
- Date submitted
- 25 March 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
The number of proposed solar parks in the West Lindsey area is excessive. Whilst I support efforts to mitigate climate change, I feel removing fertile agricultural land from food production is wrong given the UK’s reliance on imports. Imported food is liable to become more expensive and supplies unreliable as climate warming occurs (see Italian rice crop now as an example). Any land capable of arable production should be seen as a last resort for industrialisation (which solar is, in effect). The effect on the local environment and visuals are likely to be substantially negative taking a fertile flood plain with rich soils and turning it into a visually unappealing mass of panels. On a small scale, this is not too bad, but the scale proposed is simply going to destroy the landscape. The more effective and least damaging solution is for a small scale nuclear reactor to be built and connected to the grid, minimising the environmental impact.