Representation by Jeremy Gordon Newson
- Date submitted
- 12 September 2024
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
As I live in Aldington village this Solar development will have direct impact on my life here and well being. I also have issues with the application. IMPACT - Visual I live on the Aldington Ridge and so when walking the vista across the valley is outstanding and does one the world of good to see it and experience such wonderful country side. That vista will be covered in solar panels and as such it will change the very essence of where we live which is in the heart of The Garden of England. IMPACT – Loss of Habitat The local area is home to protected species such as the Skylark. We also have large Badgers sets. These animals currently reside with the area of Solar development and I believe not enough consideration has been given by the developer to protect them and their future. IMPACT – Traffic The principle way in and out of the village will be used for construction traffic and in my opinion EPL001 and its advisers have produced an inadequate traffic management plan. Throughout the year the village access road is used by huge farming vehicles and with very few passing places there will be an increased risk of accident and restricted normal traffic flow. The construction of this scheme will take at least 12 months and cause serious traffic problems in and around both villages. No account has been taken of the dangerous A20 Smeeth Crossroads. The impact on Goldwell Lane will be significant. IMPACT – Public Footpaths This development will affect at least 12 ancient public rights of way. Some will be extinguished, and many diverted around field boundaries. The enjoyment of walking Public Footpaths in our village is invaluable, whatever Footpaths are left will be surrounded by 3m high solar panels, mesh fencing and CCTV cameras will ruin such enjoyment for the next 40yrs at least. The medieval footpath between Goldwell Lane and the Parish Church St Martins will be used to access the outlier land. In doing so it will never be the same or retain its ancient heritage. I understand that it could be possible that the path was originally provided by the Church of England! On this subject no meaningful consultation with the community was ever held. ISSUE – Batteries There has never been any meaningful public consultation on batteries particularly regarding fire risk to the village, the permanent humming noise from the batteries, the visual impact and the fact that 116 battery containers in the fields surrounding our villages will cause unnecessary industrialisation of our local countryside. I cannot understand the logic about the scattergun approach to the placement of the batteries as opposed to hiding them away all together. The vast majority of batteries are within 300m of houses and EPL001 has never explained to the community why they have oversized the scheme to allow for battery storage. Jeremy Newson Revd