Representation by Robin Martin
- Date submitted
- 7 March 2024
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Overall, I am strongly in favour of developments such as East Yorkshire Solar Farm which reduce our reliance on burning fossil fuels to help lower our impact on climate change. Although I live on the edge of the proposed area for development, I regularly walk or run on the footpaths and roads affected by the scheme. I have completed the Howden 20 footpath and plan to walk it again. I am a keen observer of all kinds of wildlife, but sadly note reductions in a number of species, such as swallows and curlews, which may be due to the changing climate and the industrial agricultural practices at large. Notwithstanding my support for the solar farm infrastructure, I have several concerns that I trust the planning process will seek answers to and ensure that the development incorporates solutions to these concerns. 1. People who live or run businesses within the affected zone, should not have the extent of the solar farm built right up to the edges of their properties. I note from recently posted comments by the proposed developers that there is some positive movement in allowance of significant buffer zones, and I hope the planning process will insist this will be applied throughout the development. 2. People may well experience reductions in the value of the properties surrounded by the development. I would strongly support mandatory mitigation to the affected households and businesses in the form of permanent and significant discounts to their cost of electricity. 3. Although the arguments made by the proposed developers for positive affects on biodiversity seem reasonable, I have yet to see any detailed plans for larger mammals such as badgers, foxes, and deer. It is difficult to see how they will flourish amongst the fenced off areas. 4. I trust that the proposed developers (or their successors or sub-contractors) will be legally held to gold standard land management and countryside practices over the entirety of the lifespan of the solar farm such as, hedge trimming or grass cutting to minimise the affects on nesting or berries for winter feeding birds and hedge trimming done skilfully rather that seeing mature branches chewed-off mid trunk, which is sadly becoming more and more common.