Representation by Suzanne Springett
- Date submitted
- 8 May 2024
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Firstly I would like to stress that I am strongly opposed to the Byer’s Gill Solar Development. My family have farmed at Great Stainton for decades and decades, presently my Brother farms the family farm, my Father before him and my Grandfather before him. My Father would turn in his grave if he could see the proposed total obliteration of all this prime agricultural land along with the substantial risk to an abundance of wildlife cohabiting alongside us, most of which frequent our smallholding on a daily basis. I feel we desperately need the land in this country to provide for our needs by enhancing and improving the extensive farmland we already have. The land in this area is some of the most productive, that which is not could easily be dramatically improved by better inputs, crop rotation and manure management plans incorporating livestock manure into the soil and not by covering acres and acres with solar panels. We have clay soil in this area which retains moisture thus resulting in higher yields. The land could never return to its former glory. Our site, namely Carr House is classified as a SNCI. Carr House wildlife pond lies within just 11m of our boundary and therefore will be within just 15m of the start of Panel Area C. It will be within 200m of the proposed on site substation and our property will be within 300m of the substation and within 100m of the Panel Area. We are the one of the closest residential dwellings to a panel area and we are the only property in very close proximity to the substation which causes us grave concern particularly as in the application submitted our property is not mentioned at all in the Scoping Report with regard to the profound impact on us from noise emitted both from the construction phase of between 18 and 24 months, 7 days per week, 8am to 8pm and the following maintenance of the site. 6.4.7.6 Environmental Statement Appendix 7.6 Residential Visual Amenity Assessment 22. States: The assessment is informed by the ZTV studies within the main LVIA figures and site visits undertaken to assess views from individual properties. Where it is identified that effects at properties have the potential to reach the RVA threshold this is identified and further detailed assessment is provided in table 1 below. Table 1 Initial Assessment Ref Property Comments requires detailed assessment. No P5 Carr House. This two storey property has main facades which face north and south. Changes to the design since the PEIR stage mean that there are unlikely to be views of the panels of substation from this property as views to the east from the house and garden are screened by outbuildings and garden vegetation and there is just one small upstairs window in the west facing gable end. The audacity of whoever assumed that Carr House residents are UNLIKELY to have views of either panel area C nor the substation has left an air of absolute frustration and anger. From every window and aspect of the dwelling, garden and land panel area C and also the substation will be extremely visible. Not once has any representative from JBM visited the property or spoken to anyone of us concerned about the possible visiilith splay nor for that matter the noise implications from the development. I would refer to the LiDAR data survey of the land surface elevation height with measurements taken every 1m. The latest data was collected in 2022 therefore is up to date and of high resolution accuracy. Between Carr House and the site of the proposed substation just in front of Square wood the land profile undulated slightly where there is a ridge in the field however is only by an elevation of 4m relating to both Carr House and the substation plot. A 4m elevation is insufficient grounds to state that the substation is not visible from Carr House and I therefore strongly oppose and object to this claim. As our site is classified as an SNCI we have an abundance of wildlife visiting and also thriving and making their habitat on our site. Our pond itself is one of the original claypits from its days as a brickworks. It is spring fed and is absolutely full to the brim of thousands of fish including Rudd, Perch and Tench. There are masses of clusters of frogspawn in the shallows and the frogs are seen hopping around everywhere once developed. The swallows swoop down to retrieve mud from the edges each year on their return to rebuild their nests and following the chicks hatching catch insects for them. We have herons visiting daily, coots, moorhens, gooseanders, geese, swans, various species of ducks together with barn owls, buzzards, sparrowhawks and bats swooping around at dusk. The roe deer and muntjac graze our field at night and foxes, badgers and rabbits are everywhere. We have nesting pheasants, coveys of partridge and snipe, lapwings, curlews and skylarks and there have been recent sightings of otters in the vicinity. I myself witnessed an otter last year entering the corner of Square Wood just along from the onsite substation site. In the application it is proposed that a 4.5m wide road will run the entire length of Square Wood to allow access to the substation and the wood will be fenced off which is a major concern for the wildlife habitats in that wood. Our smallholding is a haven for bumblebees and worker bees as our natural wildflower meadow has been untouched by pesticides for decades and decades therefore attracting hundreds of damselflies and dragonflies, moths and butterflies. Many of the above species are on the UK Endangered Species List and ought to be protected at all costs. In my opinion major consideration ought to be given as to what the impact will be on all these insects and wildlife once the construction phase begins so close to their habitats and ultimately following completion. Many will be driven from their current habitats due to the close proximity of the piling equipment and huge construction machinery from the continuous noise and vibration which the company mentions in their application. Following the erection of the high deer fencing many will end up being trapped in corridors resulting in them being vulnerable to predators and poachers, the latter of which is already a major issue in this area. There are many established badger sets in all the woods which surround Panel Area C, however the application states 7.3.1 that potential impacts on wildlife, habitats, plants and watercourses have been assessed as negligible, low adverse and not significant!!! How can this possibly be the case? In the application I would refer you to the report issued by Stephenson Halliday - *6.4.7.3 – Environmental Statement Appendix 7.3 Landscape – Sensitivity Analysis. Appendix 7.3 Landscape and Settlement Sensitivity Assessment Natural Heritage states “The woodlands in the centre east of this landscape character area provide shelter and habitats for various species, while broad verges and small becks may act as pathways for species travelling between habitats. Newton Ketton Meadow is a small SSSI in the centre of the area and there is a Local Wildlife Site at Carr House Pond. “ All the woodland areas which will be surrounded by areas of panels and the main one Square Wood in front of which will be sited the substation are classified as SNCI’s or Local Wildlife Sites. The pond at Carr House lies within just 15m of Panel Area C and within 200m of the substation site. The noise, visual disturbance and possible contamination emitted from the site being in such close proximity to this site is of significant importance and poses many concerns. 6.1.1 Environmental Statement Non-Technical Summary 7.7.1. 7 states “There are numerous sites designated for ecological interest within the vicinity of the Proposed Development. These include Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast Special Protection Area (SPA), Ramsar, Thrislington Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and several Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) including Newton Ketton Meadow SSSI. There are also two Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) and two Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) including Carr House Pond Darlington LWS which is located immediately adjacent to the Proposed Development. There are protected and priority species within the Order Limits, including breeding and winter birds, invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, bats, water vole and otter, badgers and other species such as brown hare and hedgehogs”. Carr House Pond immediately adjacent – it lies just 15m from the start of panel area C and just 200m from the proposed site of the substation. Surely ought to be an area of concern particularly as it is clearly stated above that there are protected and priority species within the Order Limits. Newton Ketton Meadow is a SSSI and is stated as being a mere 100m from the development. This development would have a profound effect on the above. JBM states in their application 11.3.43 ‘ Work involving heavy plant on an open site is likely to generate vibration, which may, in certain circumstances, propagate beyond the boundary of the site. In situations where particularly heavy plant, vibrating compaction equipment or piling rigs are being used close to the site boundary, nearby properties may experience ground-borne vibration.’ I am a 5 Star Licensed Breeder of Retrievers (Labradors) as well as being a Kennel Club Assured Breeder since May 2006 having gained UKAS Accreditation. I have been breeding for over 20 years and am very proud of the reputation and accreditations I have achieved together with the facilities and services I am able to provide. I would refer you to The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities involving Animals (England) Regulations 2018 Guidance notes for conditions for breeding dogs which clearly states in Section 5 Suitable Environment 5.2 Animals must be kept at all times in an environment suitable to their species and condition with respect to: a) their behavioural needs b) its situation, space, air quality d) NOISE LEVELS. Dogs must not be restricted to areas when climatic conditions may cause them distress. In my opinion a development on this substantial scale in such close proximity to our dogs and puppies would cause significant issues. I also carry out dog training activities on our land to Field Trial standard. I feel that the implications from the noise emitted from this development both in the construction and maintenance phases due to the fact that the panel area as well as the substation is in such close proximity will undoubtedly have a significant detrimental effect on my dogs and puppies welfare, the standard of services and facilities I am able to provide as well as having a profound effect on both my own and my husband’s mental health. In fact I can categorically state that having spoken to a lot of local residents it is already clear that the effect this proposal is having on peoples’ lives and livelihoods is taking it’s toll. As residents of Carr House we are already extremely concerned regarding the noise emitted from the nearby site at Whinfield Farm, Brafferton coordinates 54.59704 deg N / 1.52867 deg W being just 3.5 miles from us at Carr House coordinates 54.57654 deg N / 1.4792 deg W as the noise from the piling equipment can be clearly heard at our property therefore that raises huge concern for us as residents being within such close proximity of the Byer’s Gill proposed development. The profound effect on our every day lives will be unimaginable and unbearable. Our property is situated on the main Sedgefield to Darlington road. At certain times of the day the commuter traffic load is considerable. The speed limit is 60mph however recent studies carried out by The Highways Agency have shown that the speed, volume of traffic and type of traffic utilising this stretch of road would not justify having a major site entrance leading directly onto the highway. The main site entrance which was originally stated as being within just a couple of metres from our property but was later moved further back after I raised several issues and concerns, will carry a huge load of construction traffic, heavy machinery, including piling equipment, HGV’s, excavators and workforce vehicles. The continuous traffic to this site would no doubt pose huge problems to the structure of the road surface, issues to the foundations of nearby properties, turmoil for commuters making their way to work, major issues for police, fire and emergency services which frequently utilise this stretch of road. 6.1.1 Environmental Statement Non-Technical Summary States: The proposed development includes approximately 32.5km of 33 kilovolt underground cabling between the panel areas and the on-site substation. 2.3.13 / 2.3.14 Low voltage cabling within the panel areas would be required to connect solar PV modules and the BESS to inverter, which transform the voltage from the lower voltage to 33KV. Cabling from the solar PV modules to the inverters would typically be installed above ground. Higher voltage cables of approximately 32.5km are required to connect the inverters and other electrical infrastructure to the on-site substation. A substation would be required for the proposed development to convert low voltages from the solar PV modules to high voltages suitable for the national grid. The substation will connect the panel areas to the national grid. The substation would also house other electrical electrical equipment to support the proposed development. The on-site substation would be located in Panel Area C. The substation compound would be a maximum of 70m in length, 70m in width with a 30m x 70m parking and turning area. The equipment within would have a maximum height of 15m (which would only relate to a communications tower, with the highest electrical equipment being 8m). As far as I can see there appears to be absolutely no mention of how the cable routes are to be laid towards the on-site substation nor the route from it. There are no maps showing the cable routes. Surely this substation is one of the most significant, if not the most significant aspects of te development. Evidence of this would be of interest. As our property Carr House lies within 200m of this on-site substation this issue poses grave concerns. We have resided at Carr House for almost 23 years and as my family have farmed around Great Stainton for decades I know this land like the back of my hand as well as having lived in the area for over 60 years. In my opinion the proposed site for the substation has not been given enough consideration. It is situated on the edge of a classified woodland, namely Square Wood, directly in front of a main watercourse which runs underground just behind the site then alongside the woodland and right the way through it. Apart from those issues it is the wettest possible area in the whole of the Byer’s Gill site so construction of a building of that magnitude in that location with huge car parking in my opinion is totally unfeasible and untenable. In the driest of summers it remains waterlogged and farm machinery avoid it like the plague and always get stuck in the deep mud. As we are the only property within very close proximity of this substation we are extremely concerned about the continuous noise emitted from the highly sensitive equipment it will house, the disturbance from office and maintenance staff coming and going but mainly the health implications posed to our dogs, puppies as well as our own health. Could I propose that the stakeholder whose land the substation is on considers relocating the proposed substation to within 200 m of his private dwelling instead of ours to a far more accessible and drier location on the site. So finally to summarise I am totally opposed to the Byer’s Gill Development • Total obliteration of prime agricultural land when we desperately need to improve our land in this country to provide for our needs. • • Total destruction of habitats and livelihoods of an abundance of insects and wildlife many of which are listed on the UK endangered species list. • • Concern about the detrimental effect on the lives of our dogs and puppies and also the potential impact on our own mental health. • • The huge impact on the effect on the roads, foundations on dwellings, volume of traffic and type of traffic passing through local villages and past dwellings to access the site. • • Concern regarding possible contamination from the site on our SNCI, Carr House Pond as well as Square Wood, Galloping Hill Plantation, Byer’s Gill Wood and Nova Scotia Wood which will all be surrounded by the Panel Area C. • Visual impairment and noise levels affecting our day to day lives both during construction phase (18 – 24 months, 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm) from vibration and noise caused by the piling equipment and construction machinery. • Concern regarding destruction of ancient land drains resulting in possible flooding issues. • The character of the whole area will be destroyed. The land could never be returned to its former glory. • Property values, particularly those such as ours, the boundary of which is within 3m of Panel areas C and within 200m of the substation will be substantially devalued and could in some cases prove unsaleable. • The whole development will surround so many beautiful local villages, primary schools and private dwellings. Surely there would be more remote sites more suited to such a huge development. I hope the Inspectorate appreciates my heartfelt concerns mentioned above and gives this application the utmost serious consideration.