Representation by Carolyn Taylor
- Date submitted
- 5 May 2024
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Objections against Byers Gill proposed Solar power station – Great Stainton Having lived in the village since November 2013 (one of now 27 households), a move motivated by its enticing picturesque landscape, quiet countryside setting, less traffic and commute to see my family and friends in the area, I am now extremely concerned to learn about this proposal and the potential impact it will have on the village, its people, farming businesses and the wildlife in the local area for the following reasons: • Scale and negative visual impact for residents The proposed development’s scale will cover three sides of our village which will have a significant adverse visual impact on many of the properties adjacent to the site boundary. Uninhabited brown sites or farm building roofs would seem more suitable. Concerns have been expressed about the impact on the wellbeing of the residents, who are both trying to process and contemplate currently the thought of “being surrounding by black glass” in their everyday lives, instead of their extensive picturesque views currently over open countryside and being able to travel through it. • The loss of agricultural land It is understood that local farmers potentially affected by the proposal, and outside of the RWE proposal, report that the land currently in scope for the development is productive agricultural land which should therefore be protected from development. • Disruption to wildlife reproduction and their environments The size and transformative effect on the land may negatively impact wildlife e.g. dazzle from the glass on birds (and migratory birds visiting in the winter) and the security fencing around the solar power stations, that could become a barrier to the movement of wildlife such as deer, foxes, hare, hedgehogs and a wide range of birds, by disrupting their lives and tracks. • Construction and noise pollution The roads to the village are narrow and busy and any construction heavy good vehicles passing through will bring noise and severe disruption to all local traffic and residents. People be able to see these farms/ power stations from the village and when travelling to other villages/ towns which will become an ugly industrial landscape change forever. This will be particularly so in the winter months. Whilst my husband and I fully support renewable green energy in some situations, demonstrated through our recent conversion to a hybrid car, solar panels on our roof and a biomass boiler installation some years ago, it is the use of the green fertile land as a solar power station that I fundamentally object to for the above reasons and sincerely request the board rejects the application as soon as possible.