Cottam – Representation Comments:
- This application is just 1 of 4 (currently) within a few miles of each other. The total area would amount to around 10,000 acres. These 4 projects, at present, are all going to be submitted and accessed individually. Surely it would be better that they are assessed as whole. The impact of one project is far different than that of the impact of 4.
- Why are there sites where land is unused and does not affect anyone being considered, for example moorland? This raises a number of concerns/issues:
- The land in question is viable agricultural land. Food producing land will be lost.
- The proposed project will encompass the hamlets within the proposed area. With the boundary of some areas of the project being close to residential property.
- The affect this will have on jobs and skills within the farming industry.
- The proposed solar panels are an unprecedented 4.5m high. These structures will not be able to blend into the landscape but dominate several thousand acres of land.
- This would make the panels highly visible to the properties near them, along the B1398 “Lincoln Cliff Road”, also to the vast amount of ramblers, dog walkers, and horse riders. They will blight our landscape. This area is designated as an Area of Great Landscape Value (AGLV)
- The combined construction time would be 4 years when combined with the other 3 projects. This will undoubtedly cause disruption in and around the proposed site, increased works traffic; mental health issues/wellbeing issues for residents and visitors to the area and will natural habitats and wildlife are affected.
- Solar panels are inefficient and a poor use of the land. We were given figures of around 27% efficient, which is a low level of energy gained.
Surely these would be more effective covering the vast amount of commercial and domestic roof space where it can directly help with energy costs as opposed to inefficiently covering farmland. It is a nonsense that a ‘new build’ property has to have an electric charge point by law, but does not have to have any solar panels or heat pump.
- Were important factors such as panel height, glare, battery storage, generation capabilities, flood risk and brownfield site use accurately communicated.
- The solar panels and precious minerals are to be sourced and manufactured abroad in China and the construction (allegedly forced) labour sourced outside of the area.
- This begs the question as to whether this is an ethically sound proposal. Will the human rights of these overseas works be respected and checked upon?
- Up to a distance of 12 miles (20km) from the Grid connection, on 10 separate parcels of land is excessive and further ecological disruption would be caused by the unnecessary civil works involved in the cable connections.
This would suggest/show that the land has been chosen by availability as opposed to suitability and therefore has the project been planned well and has the wildlife and environment really been considered.
- Near Willingham by Stow will be one of the world’s largest Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
- What is the potential fire risk, chemical risk and health risks to life and property?
- Should a more suitable location be found for this? Closer to the Grid connection on a brownfield site.