Representation by Willingham by Stow Parish Council (Willingham by Stow Parish Council)
- Date submitted
- 30 March 2023
- Submitted by
- Parish councils
Willingham by Stow Parish Council strongly oppose the massive scale of the Cottam Solar Project that have been earmarked for the area. The parish council support plans for renewable energy generation but consider the projects unacceptable. Willingham by Stow village will be affected and is concerned over the cumulative impact solar farms will have on the area. And have concerns of the safety of children/residents crossing the roads & Howson House residents due to the increased, large heavy traffic and the noise volume. The large area of land required for these would mean a huge loss and waste of agricultural land to development, consequently impacting food production in the local area. 10 thousand acres of agricultural land would be compromised, equivalent to 3x the size of the town Gainsborough. With solar panels surrounding all local villages. Would this land really be suitable for farming again once all solar panels and concrete have been removed? Many people are concerned about the implications such major schemes will have on the area; considering the visual impact, negative affect on wildlife and archaeology, loss of countryside and associated agricultural jobs. In addition, the loss of footpaths and byways during construction, as well as bearing in mind that local roads are unsuitable for construction traffic on this scale. It would dramatically change our local rural scene for the worse. The attractive link between the village and the countryside would be destroyed. The ground underneath the solar panels will not be able to absorb water, hence there will be additional run off. Where will this water go? The area has history of flooding.