Representation by Lesley Jean Wickens
- Date submitted
- 10 September 2024
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
1 Location and Size The large scale Stonestreet plan is wrongly sited topographically and infills between two village communities (Aldington and Mersham) This is surely against the current policy of safeguarding the integrity of rural communities. 745 acres overall and surrounding Aldington on 3 sides, EPL-001’s Stonestreet project with a proposed generation total of 165MW is hugely out of scale for its location and beyond the export capacity of 99.9MW to the nearby Sellindge Converter Station, thereby requiring sizable continuous energy storage, including a large 132KW substation and inverter stations with battery storage. 2 Really an Industrial site in a rural location 28 Inverter stations with 4 battery containers each with 4m high acoustic fencing and 5no 12m diameter x 3.5m high water tanks all with 2/3m deep foundations. Questions remain unanswered regarding the fire risks and noise pollution. Their siting throughout the site and close to residential properties (min 130m), Aldington School and the village in general is equally questionable. The dangers of Lithium batteries are well known - instant explosive reaction requiring long-term water-extinguishing as well as releasing toxic fumes. 4 deep grid system 3m high PV solar panels a minimum of 2m apart with supporting posts requiring relevant foundations. The spacing between solar panels as currently indicated does not seem to allow much light source to the land below - which questions the suitability to retain agricultural use. Mono lateral panels are inefficient when used in valley/rolling topography – not all South facing. The ‘over-planning’ of panels intensifies the quantity required and over generates power by 65.1MW thus requiring the storage facilities (Back-up, degradation or selling excess energy to the highest bidder?) Perimeter security fencing 2.2m high, 3m high poles for CCTV and maintenance lighting. Indicating an industrial style compound set within the Kent countryside. 3 Loss of productive agricultural land Soil analysis undertaken for EPL – 001 show grades 2,3a and 3b giving 80 acres of ‘best and most versatile’ land. In an era of rising food import prices and shortage of good agricultural land in the South East – surely the loss of any food producing land should be avoided. Site construction and waterlogging have been shown to degrade the quality of land as does the underground construction work for the infrastructure for CCTV posts / security fencing/ poles for panel grid, ballast and bases for battery storage units and the substation. 40 years on, this will not be agricultural land but a brownfield site - open for likely development. The spacing between solar panels as currently indicated does not seem to allow much light source to the land below - which questions the suitability to retain agricultural use. Mono lateral panels are inefficient when used in valley/rolling topography – not all South facing. The ‘over-planning’ of panels intensifies the quantity required and over generates power by 65.1MW thus requiring the storage facilities (Back-up, degradation or selling excess energy to the highest bidder?) Perimeter security fencing 2.2m high, 3m high poles for CCTV and maintenance lighting. Indicating an industrial style compound set within the Kent countryside. 3 Loss of productive agricultural land Soil analysis undertaken for EPL – 001 show grades 2,3a and 3b giving 80 acres of ‘best and most versatile’ land. In an era of rising food import prices and shortage of good agricultural land in the South East – surely the loss of any food producing land should be avoided. Site construction and waterlogging have been shown to degrade the quality of land as does the underground construction work for the infrastructure for CCTV posts / security fencing/ poles for panel grid, ballast and bases for battery storage units and the substation. 40 years on, this will not be agricultural land but a brownfield site - open for likely development. 4 Visual impact and Rural Heritage The site includes the Aldington Ridge where the installations will be visible from Romney Marsh and the Saxon Shore Way(AONB) It also includes The East Stour Valley where the complex will be overlooked from Upper Mersham, the Evegate Ridge and the North Downs(AONB) Not only is the surrounding security fence unsightly but the mitigation planting will not disguise the overlooked internal installations. The applications sketches and visuals take no account of this. Aldington village has a well recorded Saxon history from 961 onwards, several listed and historical buildings (50) and is often visited for it’s association with the 18/19th Century Aldington Smuggling Gang. Surrounding an often-visited village on 3 sides with an industrial enterprise is inappropriate and harmful to the Kent tourist industry. Mersham village includes a conservation area, many grade 1/ 2 listed properties as well as a number on the Flood Steet corridor and along the Roman Road (approx.46 listed buildings.) It is important to retain the heritage of a typical Kent medieval-onwards rural settlement which would be visually impaired and suffer increased traffic on rural roads. The names ‘Roman Road’ and ‘Flood Street’ surely indicate both history and environment. 5 Flooding The height of the PV panels in some fields may have to be raised due to flooding. Being on the East Stour flood plain, EPL-001admit that the flood risk will be increased and could affect the existing flood alleviation scheme. 6 Public Rights of Way 18 public footpaths and a byeway are within the site. For many years, I have enjoyed the tranquillity of the footpath from Flood Street to Bank Road. The developers approach seems to relocate the paths around the perimeters of its site regardless of walking quality or distances –alongside their security fences. 7 Site Access and Traffic Aldington village access roads are mainly narrow lanes with single track stretches. Construction and maintenance traffic will be directed from the A20 Hythe Rd via Station Road to the site roadways. The junction of A20 and Station Rd is already a “black spot” for accidents. The planned traffic arrangements appear inadequate for this size of development. Other similar projects have found that private staff cars avoid the designated HGV / construction vehicle route in favour of local lanes and through villages to their parking area. 8 Evolution Energy (EPL-001) – Financial and Operational Credentials Evolution Energy is funded by a Finnish investment company. They have no experience in building and operating solar generation installations. Ashford Borough Council would be required to manage the planning consent details with a Finnish company. There must be serious doubts about their long-term commitment to this scheme. Will they be the developer and operator or will they sell on the consent (if given) for quick profits. 9 Alternative options EPL-001/Evolution Energy’s application has limited their exploring of any more suitable sites. I raised this question at a consultation display – to be told that Evolution Energy were made aware that the proposed site, with its easy access to the Sellindge Converter Station, was available to lease. Other nearby landowners were not ready to lease land currently. EPL-001/Evolution Power’s focus was on the economy of easy access - regardless of the question of overall topographical suitability and detrimental impact to the community.