1,197 signatures on this petition. Let’s convert all of them to objections on the planning application.
It’s vital we get as many as possible to show our strength of feeling about this huge industrial development next to the village of Radford Semele.
Remember - every adult in your household can submit their own.
Objections must be based on material planning considerations. These could be:
Size, scale and dominance – it’s 40% bigger than the village (230 acres compared to 166 acres). It’s an industrial development with 2.4 metre CCTV cameras, a 7.6 meter substation, 2 metre galvanised steel security fencing and battery storage areas. There will be inverters, barriers, overhead lines, mounting structures and cabling.
Cumulative impact – the third solar development along this stretch of the Fosse Way which would make a total of 465ha (1150 acres) of solar development on 12 separate sites, all within 5 miles.
No Alternative Site Assessment – where’s the evidence that there’s no brownfield or non-agricultural land that’s more suitable for this type of development? Why choose agricultural land? Because it’s close to a grid connection and therefore cheap and easy for the developer.
Goes against Policies NE4, BE1, CC2 and EC2 – it won’t harmonise or enhance the landscape, it won’t positively contribute to its character, and it won’t minimise the adverse impacts on adjacent land uses and local residential amenity.
Loss of amenity - 1 ½ miles of public rights of way and bridlepaths will be affected. 88% of people who use this area three times a week or more will use it less frequently, or not at all. Our footpaths will be encased in 2 metre high security fencing.
It will be highly visible – part of the development is directly opposite Cedar Tree Farm on elevated land. Policy EC2 says that it should be ‘integrated into the landscape without being detrimental to its character. This simply isn’t possible.
Loss of productive arable land – farms adjacent to this land have submitted crop and yield data significantly higher than national averages. The developer and landowner may have downplayed the quality as crops have been grown here for hundreds of years. 130 acres could grow enough wheat to produce two million loaves of bread every year.
Loss of wildlife habitats – 19 skylark territories will be displaced. 22 species of birds have been recorded as displaying breeding behaviour on these fields, including a number listed as ‘rare and most threatened’ on the NERC Act – skylarks, grey partridge, starlings, song thrushes, sparrows, yellow wagtails, dunnocks and yellowhammers. Hares, deer and badgers are all prolific.
Submit your objection on the WDC planning portal.
And email nosolardevelopment@gmail.com for the full list of objections.