Representation by Pauline Margery Organ
- Date submitted
- 28 March 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Appreciate that production of renewable energy is essential BUT this must be balanced against need for sustainable food production IN THIS COUNTRY. 10,000 acres of good corn-growing land will be covered in solar panels if this proposal goes ahead unmodified. The cost, carbon footprint and unreliability of importing this amount of food must be weighed against possible gain in electricity. Although ecological surveys have been carried out on land in question, THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE caused by cabling will be great and affect many occupied buildings, farms and homes. Skylarks (and lapwings), key species on this type of land will be adversely affected, although some other species may be less so. A compromise solution, using less invasive (possibly less profitable for involved landowners) must be reached. This could include installation of solar PV on ALL NEW-BUILD, BY LAW, use of every available roof, domestic, agricultural, industrial. It will be argued that there will be difficulties in connection/cabling but this must be overcome. Much wider use of smaller wind/solar/storage units, making neighbourhoods more self-reliant, possibly micro-hydro and micro-nuclear set-ups.