Back to list Byers Gill Solar

Representation by Sean Anderson

Date submitted
16 May 2024
Submitted by
Members of the public/businesses

I am totally against this development as I have significant concerns about the following: Size and scale of the development in and around a small cluster of rural village communities. The disruption and damage to existing infrastructure. The damage to heritage and conservation assets and features. The damage to existing amenities, with some key amenities becoming too dangerous to use. The industrialisation of a rural community. The removal of a vast area of productive farmland with a negative effect upon the country's food security. The detrimental impact upon people's health, safety and welfare both during and after construction. The detrimental impact upon people's welfare, mental health, anxiety, etc when they are left to live in a totally different environment - ie: an industrial landscape! The siting of a potentially extremely dangerous industrial complex metres away from houses, businesses and a primary school. The irreversible impact upon property values - people have been encouraged by successive governments to be homeowners. They have strived to do this in some cases for years - this development will have a significant effect upon the value of their assets. It is already having an impact! The cumulative effect of the proliferation of planned and proposed solar developments in such a small concentrated geographical area. The increased risk of flooding. The destruction of established wildlife habitat. The risk of fire and the dangerous consequences - toxic fumes, pollution of watercourses, etc. Increased crime levels due to solar related theft & subsequent impact upon insurance costs. Risk to residents, visitors, equestrians, etc both during and after construction. Lack of a Design Risk Assessment identifying a hierarchy of mitigation - where risk to life has been identified, properly considered and robustly mitigated. Impact of noise pollution. Intrusiveness of security arrangements - ie: CCTV installations. The lasting damage to peoples physical and visual amenity. The lack of genuine, sincere consultation by the developer with the community - those people, whose lives will be turned upside down by the proposed development. The disingenuous conduct, false statements, lack of integrity and total contempt shown by the developers to the community during the 'consultation' process, with an emphasis upon legislative compliance rather than genuine and meaningful engagement. How can they be trusted to build this out? Questionable benefits as there has been a lack of transparency during the process to date - has a cost benefit analysis been carried out? who benefits? certainly not the people it effects the most!