Representation by C E Gardiner and Sons (C E Gardiner and Sons)
- Date submitted
- 18 July 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
As a contractor of land we expect fair compensation will be paid as a result of this scheme but, from a practical point of view, we ask the Inspector to look at the other options National Grid have been given for the haul road. These alternative routes have been dismissed by National Grid, without further discussions with the affected landowners, with no explanation as to why. If National Grid were prepared to look at the alternative options, it would offset a lot of the following concerns we and other landowners have, including; SOIL DEGRADATION caused by construction work increases the decline of global food production. A minimum of eleven acres of grade two arable farmland will be ruined long term due to compaction that not only destroys the complicated drainage systems in place (this subsequently affects the whole fields extending to 153 acres) but also the biodiversity of micro organisms that interact with one another resulting in the formation, structure and productivity of the soil. As we all know soil is a non renewable resource. SOIL FERILITIY Land will be left less fertile for the future and subject to erosion following the compaction from numerous heavy vehicles. LAND AND MOLE DRAINAGE National Grid have not given us proper drainage strategies and we stress that they deploy our own drainage consultants who have years of knowledge on the field’s concerned. LOSS OF INCOME Pockets of land will be left un farmable due to machinery restriction resulting in loss of income for both the contractors and landowner. ECOLOGY This land has been nurtured by my father and his fathers for the last 145 years both as a productive business and an ecological haven for wildlife. WATER AND SOIL RUN OFF Under DEFRA legislation farmers have a duty to prevent diffuse pollution which is demonstrated through the Catchment Sensitive Farming Program. The run off of soil and water from 1000 meters of the haul road will run directly into the ditch which feeds Pebmarsh Brook and subsequently the Colne river. This pollution will cause major petrification further down the line. I am imploring you to consider the use of the perfectly adequate road that highways have not been consulted on. Passing places on the sides of these fields will save this beautiful farm from environmental vandalism.