Thank you for your continued support with over 2480 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.  Wildlife Corridor and Open space will be lost especially if the council allow housing to be built next to the Solar farm on the neighbouring field. 

The avocets have returned to the west field flashpond to nest in greater numbers than last year. These species will no longer be able to use it if it becomes part of the solar array, as its wide-open aspect will be completely lost. The habitat loss for these species needs to be taken into account, as does the potential indirect impact on Boldon Flats.

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.

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 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 .

As a result of its location, many birds may also 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 birds flying above it. This is an issue that the solar industry is aware of and we draw attention to the following on the Freedom Solar Panel website (freedomsolarpower.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-solar-panels-and- birds) “Solar panels do not kill birds outright.

However, birds are attracted to the shininess of solar panels, which often look like moving water when flying above. Some birds mistake panels for bodies of water and try to dive into the “water,” which hurts or kills them.
The proposal argues that the opportunity to generate renewable energy is the exceptional circumstance in this case. It also argues that the land change is temporary, for 30 years. However, granting approval will result in loss of green belt, loss of agricultural land, loss of wildlife and bird habitat and of the current wildlife corridor, loss of the existing “openness” and blurring of the open area between South Tyneside and Sunderland.

It will also affect the existing visual amenity with the introduction of the large number of solar panels, substations and security fencing. 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.

Thank you.