Representation by Ms Sandy Beckitt
- Date submitted
- 1 March 2024
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I have sold my home on the [REDACTED] and the completion date is [REDACTED] I decided to move here part time to be closer to my family and my mother who was in a care home in [REDACTED] I loved this area so much that I decided to move here permanently and sell my home on [REDACTED] so that I could afford to buy a property close to my brother and his family. I need the support from close family members. I have had horses all my life and only own one at present. My horses is a ride and drive(cob) and I own a trap that she pulls. This area is extremely safe to ride and drive my cob, the country lanes albeit single track are very quiet and we hardly ever encounter any vehicles and if we do the drivers kindly move over and pass slowly. I feel far safer out with my cob here than I ever did when out with my ponies on Arran. One of my issues is that the large Hgv traffic will not be able to pull over to pass us as my trap is as wide as a car, the verges here are extremely soft and the hgv's will sink and get stuck. I will not be able to reverse my pony and trap and I imagine the hgv driver will not be too happy about having to reverse to a passing place. My cob as good as she is may become stressed by all the increased traffic, noise from the construction site, which is along all of the route we use, and also the construction site is adjoining the fields where I keep my cob along with my niece's horse and pony they will be stressed with all the works going on and may get colic with the stress. Colic is a dangerous condition for equines and we would need vet visits to inject pain killers and medication to relax their intestinal muscles All which will be costly. There is a riding arena at my family's home and my neice and her young children ride in the arena. The solar farm construction site will be close to this riding arena and we are fearful that the noise and movement within close proximity to the riding area will cause the horses and ponies to become stressed, difficult and dangerous to ride in the riding arena and also when hacking out on the lanes. This will make it near on impossible to enjoy what is usually very enjoyable and relaxing hobby. Another issue is the security lighting which will be all around my family's home. This area boasts dark skies unspoilt by light pollution, but the security lighting will change all that and not for the good. I had hoped to find a property close to my brother and his family, and enjoy this beautiful countryside life,but this solar farm will destroy all the plans I had for my life ahead. I have noticed a number of horse riders safely enjoying hacking out along these quiet country lanes and they also enjoy riding along the field headlands. These safe quiet country lanes will no longer be a safe place to exercise a horse and to get the health benefits tor the riders from hacking out.