Representation by Emma Foster
- Date submitted
- 25 January 2024
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
There are several reasons I would like to be able to comment on these plans and these are; Effect on the rural setting in which we live: We have lived in Gribthorpe for over 15 years and chose our home due to it’s rural and peaceful setting. A development such as this would have a detrimental effect on the character of the neighbourhood not only with the visual impact but also the noise, disturbance and loss of privacy within our community. I am also concerned of the glare given off by the huge scale of the solar panels, which will be installed so close to our roads. We have very narrow roads as it is but the thought of been blinded by the glare, even just for a few seconds, is terrifying and could cause accidents on our roads. Use of agricultural land: I do not understand why a solar farm should be built on agricultural land when a study by the CPRE Countryside Charity has shown there is space for 1.3 million homes on previously developed brownfield land, much of it in areas of the midlands and north most in need of regeneration. All we hear in the news is how we need to eat better, more vegetables, more locally grown food with less of carbon footprint but they are proposing we stop using our land for this very purpose. Why can they not use brownfield sites, that are not so close to people’s homes and communities, to develop their solar farms. Effect on the wildlife: We have a huge amount of wildlife in our community and the surrounding land and this solar farm will be enclosed by 2.2 metre high deer proof fencing. Not only will this look unsightly and effect the character of our neighbourhood but it will also be detrimental to the deer and other wildlife. We often see deer crossing the fields and roads and would hate to see them get stuck in the fencing if they panic when seeing a car approaching. We also have a large amount of birds of prey, including buzzards, kestrels and owls, who would have their ability to hunt effectively hindered by the installation of huge glass panels across their countryside. We have been advised that all hedges, trees and public rights of way will be kept as they currently are, but in our village we have public footpath crossing one of the field designated to be covered in solar panels. The footpath, we are assured, will remain but will be surrounded on either side by a 2.2 metre fence, creating a corridor down which we can walk. This sounds like an extremely unattractive proposition and not unlikened to walk through a prison. This can in no way compare to the unobstructed views of the countryside we currently have whilst using a public right of way. Highways and use of the roads: In Gribthorpe we have a single road in and out of our village. If this road was to blocked by construction traffic or damaged then we would have no way of accessing our homes or getting our children to school and ourselves to work. It is understood that the construction of the solar farm would give rise to much traffic on the roads and highways surrounding our community. Our local roads are currently in a huge state of disrepair. There are many huge cracks in the road surface which are only to get worse as winter approaches and water and ice gets into the cracks causing them to expand even more. The road surface is pitted and uneven, causing dreadful amounts of adverse camber along most of its length. We also no official passing places on our roads, therefore an increase in heavy good vehicles on the roads would be unacceptable as many residents would have damage done to their cars having to drive on the grass verge to let these huge vehicles pass. If the HGVs themselves were to go drive off the edge of the road, not only could they get stuck but they would cause immense damage to the verges and make it even harder for cars to pass each other. As previously mentioned I am also concerned about the glare given by the panels which could blind a driver causing terrible consequences on our very narrow roads, which some have large drainage ditches at the side. An accident waiting to happen. Planning restrictions: We had some planning approved a few years ago but it was approved on the basis that there would not be any further homes within our village as the road network could not take any further traffic. Going back to my remarks about the highways above, if the council did not want us to build another single home, with the possibility of one or two cars using the roads, how can they approve the use of hundreds of heavy goods vehicles using the roads for the construction of a solar farm. Further to the above, our neighbours had planning for a small balcony on their house refused due to the detrimental impacts on the character and appearance of their dwelling and not having regard for the site’s wider context and character of the surrounding area. I quote from their planning application notice of decision issued by Mrs Karen Timms of East Riding of Yorkshire Council “The erection of a balcony to the front of the barn conversion is considered to be an alien feature to the dwelling… and it is considered to detrimentally impacts upon the character and appearance of the dwelling… are not considered to be in keeping with the existing building and would have a dominant appearance… The proposal is considered to be contrary to the East Riding Local Plan Strategy Document policy ENV1 which requires development to have regard to the specific characteristics of the site’s wider context and character of the surrounding area and pay attention to the use of local materials, architectural styles and features: and policy ENV2 which requires developments with the countryside to respect the local character of their surroundings. The proposal is also considered to be contrary to guidance with the National Planning Policy Framework which discourages development of poor or inappropriate design, rather it advises that development should establish a strong sense of place and respond to local character, reflect the identity of local surroundings” This being a predominantly agricultural community I cannot see how a solar farm is in keeping with the identity of our local surroundings or in any way having regard for the context and character of our community. Surely we cannot refuse residents permission to alter their homes in an area and then deem it acceptable to grant permission for a solar farm to be built by a business who are based over 250 miles away. In conclusion, I am objecting the plans as they currently stand. I do not agree that the solar farm of this size should be allowed within our tiny fragile communities. I understand that we may all benefit from solar panels been used to generate electricity and implore that these be built on areas away from residential areas, hidden from view by hedges and trees and not directly next to roads. Some of Boom Power’s plan included land that is not directly going to affect our community. It away from the roads and houses and I believe that some of the land would be acceptable to be used. Smaller parcels of land that will not be detrimental to our wildlife quite so much. That will not spoil the unique characteristics of our local communities and are in contrary to the character of the surrounding area. CURRENT LARGEST SOLAR FARM IS SHOTWICK SOLAR PARK ON THE BOARDER OF ENGLAND AND WALES AND IS JUST 250 ACRES PRODUCING 72.2MW NOT BOARDING ANY HOMES OR RESIDENTAIL AREA