Decision process stalled while waiting for detailed responses from the applicant.

Residents, tourists and walkers will all be affected by the proposal for 100 acres of solar panels on a north-facing valley side in a special landscape area.
The development will occupy valuable food-producing land for up to 40 years and yet produce as little as 10% of the claimed electricity output.

It will need to be surrounded by 2.5m high metal security fencing to deter thieves.  It will need another electricity sub-station (separate to the existing compound a few yards away). It will be seen for several miles in an outstanding rural area, which has changed little for over 600 years.

The planning application for the solar site in Boxted has been published.

The deadline for comments on the planning application for the solar site in Boxted was 18 December 23, however people can still email Babergh District Council with their views.

The council web site planning pages holds the expert objection DOCUMENTS, dated 29 February 24. They have a lot of information and whatever your interest, there's something there for you. See also the appendix documents. CT-1, CT-2, CT-3, etc.

This might surprise you 

There are already enough solar sites with permission to connect to the National Grid to enable the UK to meet net zero solar targets tomorrow.

The problem is the 10 year wait for connection.  See the Planning Statement, p4, para 1.6 on the council website.

So this begs the question "Why are communities and councils being subjected to the cost and uncertainty and distraction of having to consider proposals for sites which have little or no hope of being connected to the grid?"

Signing this petition goes a long way, but a comment or an objection takes opposition to the proposal a whole lot further. The people who decide always keep an eye on the numbers. So, please have a go.

(scroll down for the link to the Council planning site after the following paragraphs)

Why object to this solar site? 

5 simple reasons:

- It's in plain sight

- North-facing inefficiency

- Lost agricultural land

- No local benefit

- Grid-locked with 3000+ extra vehicle movements along the narrow and winding B1066, over six months. 

That's 500 each month and up to 92 in a day - every 5-10 minutes, on top of existing traffic. 

Many will be HGVs - articulated trucks up to 18m long, carrying shipping containers full of batteries.

So, how best to comment?

https://planning.baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=S3GCPPSHHHP00&activeTab=summary

The deadline for online comment has passed, but you can still email and browse some of the existing objections if you need ideas. Yours does not need to be lengthy - brief is best and a page is more than enough.  The longer ones you may see are the consequence of having been immersed in the detail for over a year.

Want to stay anonymous?

Because this is a sensitive issue, the council has agreed that you can make an anonymous comment on this application by email or letter only, but you must exclude any personal detail (or clues about yourself or where you live) from the text of your Objection.

Using email, write to planning@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk

Subject: DC/23/05127, Boxted - OBJECT

Include your name and address in the body of the email - and state that you wish to remain anonymous.

Attach your anonymous comment to the email so that it can be published separately without any personal detail, which could identify you.

By post: to Planning Department
Babergh District Council
Floor 1, Endeavour House
8 Russell Road, Ipswich, IP1 2BX

Include the reference: DC/23/05127, Boxted - OBJECT and your name and address on the first page, with the declaration that you wish to remain anonymous.

The objection statement should be on a separate page and this could be published.  Again, make sure you do not include any personal details or clues in the statement. 

The planning application details:

Ref No.: DC/23/05127 

Deadline for objections/comments: 15th December 2023 

If you need help, email saveglemvalley@gmail.com
Thank you

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The planning application details:

Ref No.: DC/23/05127

Deadline for objections/comments: 15th December 2023

The planning application can be seen on the Babergh District Council site: https://planning.baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=S3GCPPSHHHP00&activeTab=summary

You can also see what other people have said about this application and maybe use their letters as examples. There are so many aspects to this, yet common concerns are often shared.

If you need help, email saveglemvalley@gmail.com

Where one succeeds, others follow - and no one is really in control.

For more information and to see an aerial video of this Special Landscape Area : go to www.saveglemvalley.org

Several hundred local residents have signed a paper version of this petition, so if you prefer, just email saveglemvalley@gmail.com to receive a form to print, sign, scan and return for your details to be held only for the duration of this appeal. It's your choice and thank you. 

See the link to Just Giving if you want to help us to raise the money needed to fight this proposal by building on local opposition supported by professional guidance.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/saveglemvalley?utm_term=aKEJgMYGw
(you can alter or reduce the voluntary additional amount, just touch the screen to open the window)