We don’t want solar farms here! Nearly 8,000 people sign petition amid backlash against plans to build huge eco-farms in 2,000-acre development on land surrounding picturesque …
- Will YOU be affected by Lime Down Solar Park? Email [email protected]
Published: 19:41, 2 April 2024 | Updated: 19:42, 2 April 2024
Almost 8,000 people have signed a petition amid backlash against plans to build a 2,000-acre solar farm development on land surrounding picturesque country villages.
Lime Down Solar Park is expected to power around 115,000 homes from six sites across north Wiltshire, including in the sleepy villages of Sherston, Hullavington and Stanton St Quintin, near Malmesbury.
The sites, to be connected into the National Grid’s substation at Melksham, would feature ground-mounted solar photovoltaic panels, a battery energy storage system, and security fencing with CCTV and would aim to generate 500 megawatts of clean energy.
But campaigners say the plans would cover farmland in a ‘beautiful and biodiverse countryside’, including more than 300 acres on the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort’s Badminton Estate, with 2.75-metre high panels, surrounded by a three-metre high security fence.
Last month James Gray, Tory[2] MP for North Wiltshire, said the application, put forward by international developer Island Green Power, was ‘scandalous and must be stopped’.
Almost 8,000 people have signed a petition amid backlash against plans to build a 2,000-acre solar farm development on land surrounding picturesque country villages (pictured: a sign near the proposed site)
Lime Down Solar Park is expected to power around 115,000 homes from six sites (pictured) across north Wiltshire, including in the sleepy villages of Sherston, Hullavington and Stanton St Quintin, near Malmesbury
The sites, to be connected into the National Grid’s substation at Melksham, would feature ground-mounted solar photovoltaic panels, a battery energy storage system, and security fencing with CCTV and would aim to generate 500 megawatts of clean energy
But campaigners say the plans would cover farmland in a ‘beautiful and biodiverse countryside’
Stop Lime Down Solar Park, a campaign group set up to challenge the plans, has argued that such parks should be moved to ‘former industrial sites or next to motorways’
The body’s petition has been signed by more than 7,700 people and calls for a prohibition on ‘mega solar facilities’ over 50 megawatts on UK farmland
He said: ‘What is proposed is an absolutely monstrous destruction of some of the most lovely landscapes in North Wiltshire; it will wholly destroy the area’s natural beauty, it will require industrial scale development, and it will make poor little Wiltshire by far the biggest contributor to solar energy in the UK.
‘Not only all of that, but especially at a time like this I am firmly of the view that our highly productive farms should be producing food not sacrificed on the altar of climate change.’
Mr Gray added that 42 solar farms were already up and running in the county, including eight of the ten largest in the country.
Stop Lime Down Solar Park, a campaign group set up to challenge the plans, has argued that such parks should be moved to ‘former industrial sites or next to motorways’.
The body’s petition has been signed by more than 7,700 people and calls for a prohibition on ‘mega solar facilities’ over 50 megawatts on UK farmland.
The 52,000-acre Badminton Estate has been the home of the dukes of Beaufort since 1682 and is just nine miles away from the King’s family home, Highgrove House.
The duke’s ex-wife Tracy Somerset also opposes the new plans.
The actress-turned-environmentalist lives in a separate house on the estate and told The Telegraph[3]: ‘Solar panels should be on roofs, along motorways, or industrial sites.
‘Land should be for growing food, not profits for a few landowners, manufacturers and investors.
‘Be careful what the climate change fearmongering will lull us into accepting.’
The park’s generation capacity exceeds 50 megawatts classifying it as a ‘nationally significant infrastructure project’.
An initial six-week consultation began on March 14 and will run until April 26.
Island Green Power expects to carry out a second consultation stage this winter.
Tory MP James Gray said: ‘What is proposed is an absolutely monstrous destruction of some of the most lovely landscapes in North Wiltshire’ (pictured: protesters in Norton, Wiltshire)
He added: ‘It will wholly destroy the area’s natural beauty, it will require industrial scale development, and it will make poor little Wiltshire by far the biggest contributor to solar energy in the UK’ (pictured: protesters in Norton, Wiltshire)
The park’s generation capacity exceeds 50 megawatts classifying it as a ‘nationally significant infrastructure project’
An initial six-week consultation began on March 14 and will run until April 26.
Island Green Power expects to carry out a second consultation stage this winter
Natasha Worrall, project development manager at Island Green Power, said Lime Down Solar Park would provide ‘a significant amount of clean electricity for businesses and homes in the region’
But Mr Gray said the application, put forward by international developer Island Green Power, was ‘scandalous and must be stopped’
Natasha Worrall, project development manager at Island Green Power, said Lime Down Solar Park would provide ‘a significant amount of clean electricity for businesses and homes in the region’.
She said: ‘As well as providing clean electricity which helps us move away from polluting fossil fuels, it is our ambition to design the project in a way that also boosts and enhances local wildlife by delivering a net gain in biodiversity.
‘We are dedicated to responsible land use and believe that the development and delivery of utility-scale farms can co-exist harmoniously with their environment.’
References
- ^ Sam Lawley (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Tory (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ The Telegraph (www.telegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Conservatives (www.dailymail.co.uk)