A senior Lincolnshire councillor has criticized the government's decision to approve two large solar farms, stating that it disregards local concerns and 'trashes the countryside'. Colin Davie, executive councillor for environment, economy and planning, expressed his disappointment over the developments, citing the significant opposition from residents and the cumulative impact of these projects on the county's landscape.
A senior Lincolnshire councillor has expressed his disappointment over the government's decision to approve two large-scale solar farms in the county, calling it a 'slap in the face' for Lincolnshire residents. Colin Davie, executive councillor for environment, economy and planning at Lincolnshire County Council, made these comments following the announcement that applications for both the Heckington Fen Solar Park and the West Burton Solar Project have been granted development consent.
Heckington Fen, located south of the county and being developed by Ecotricity, is projected to generate enough power for over 100,000 homes. The West Burton project, situated on the Lincolnshire-Nottinghamshire border, is of similar scale and will utilize 788 hectares of land across three sites. Davie criticized the government for disregarding local concerns and stated that adding these two massive solar farms to Lincolnshire's already designated areas for solar development exacerbates the issue of 'trashing the countryside' by placing 'ginormous industrial developments' on agricultural land. He emphasized the significant local opposition to these projects and lamented the government's failure to consider the cumulative impacts of all proposed developments in the county. The Heckington and West Burton solar proposals qualified as National Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) last autumn, leading to an expedited review process for solar farm applications. Campaign groups like the 7000 Acres Group are actively opposing these developments, arguing against the 'mass industrialization' of the countryside. If all the proposed projects are approved, they will collectively cover over 30,000 acres of land, according to developers' planning documents. The government maintains its stance that solar energy plays a crucial role in 'decarbonizing the grid' and reducing the UK's dependence on fossil fuels. Dale Vince OBE, founder of Ecotricity, expressed his delight at receiving permission for the Heckington Fen project, highlighting its potential to contribute to the country's net zero target and create hundreds of jobs. Developers behind the West Burton project have also been contacted by the BBC for their response.
Solar Farms Lincolnshire Government Decision Environmental Impact Local Opposition
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