Thank you for your continued support with over 2349 signatures on the petition. The ST Council itself admits that the planned Solar Farm does not accord with the current council development or the National Planning framework plan for the area. The revised SAFC plan submitted to the council for the Solar farm proposes removing the flashpond on the West Field and will remove the wildlife corridors to Boldon Flats present for over 50 years in South Tyneside.
The avocets have returned to the west field flashpond to nest in greater numbers than last year. The habitat loss for these species needs to be taken into account, as does the potential indirect impact on Boldon Flats. Many aquatic birds fly from the coast over the proposed solar array site. A solar array at a location such as this may look like a pond to aquatic birds flying above it. Some birds mistake panels for bodies of water and try to dive into the “water,” which hurts or kills them.
The SAFC application states that the Northern flashpond on the West Field pond was only present last year. However, that area is known locally to regularly flood. Evidence of this is within the South Tyneside landscape character study, where Character Area 33: Boldon Flats and Whitburn Moor (which the application site is part of) is defined in the study as “Low-lying areas of habitat value are an important biodiversity resource, and the winter flooding is characteristic of this area.”
SAFC claimed in the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment(LVIA), that the sensitivity to existing residents of Moor Lane is high and the resulting visual impact is assessed as MAJOR ADVERSE . The applicants therefore accept that the proposed development is in conflict with the third purpose of the Green Belt which is to assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment. There is no doubt that the proposed development will encroach into this narrow strip of countryside which forms not only part of the green belt but also part of the wildlife and green infrastructure corridor.
The government states the fundamental purpose of green belt is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open around urban areas and that green belt boundaries should be changed “only in exceptional circumstances”. The planning proposal to erect a 40MW solar farm consisting of around 130,000 solar panels along with electricity substations 6m by 2.4 m and 2.9 m high, a 2metre security fence and other infrastructure does not meet the requirements to meet the “exceptional circumstances” required to build on the green belt removing any gap between Sunderland and South Tyneside and near Boldon Flats nature reserve, a designated site of specific natural interest .
SAFC claimed in the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment(LVIA), that the sensitivity to existing residents of Moor Lane is high and the resulting visual impact is assessed as MAJOR ADVERSE . SAFC therefore accept that the proposed development is in conflict with the third purpose of the Green Belt which is to assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment. The proposed development will clearly encroach into this narrow strip of countryside which forms not only part of the green belt but also part of the wildlife and green infrastructure corridor.
Electricity substations on Solar farms have led to large fires endangering nearby residents and contaminating the groundwater table. Introduction of the large number of solar panels, substations and security fencing will also affect the existing visual amenity. The views from and towards Cleadon Hills in particular will be radically altered.Please tell friends about the petition and ask them to sign it as well as other members of your household and family.
Please, let us stand united in protecting this piece of our heritage. Sign this petition and join the voice to safeguard South Tyneside's Green Belt
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