Stockton MP criticises approval of Byers Gill solar farm
Vickers previously spoke against the solar farm during a House of Commons debate in 2024, as large swathes of nearby greenbelt land have been obtained by developers for solar farms.According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the 180MW farm would be made up of several blocks of development located in Brafferton, Hauxley Farm, Byers Gill Wood, Great Stainton and two near Bishopton.RWE said the development will cover about 490 hectares (1,211 acres) of land in total.
Speaking after the government's decision to approved the plans, Vickers said: "Labour is so obsessed with net-zero and solar farms that they're happy to bulldoze through the views of local residents to push ahead with it."He claimed Labour "couldn't give a damn about the views of local people".But the energy consumers minister Miatta Fahnbulleh said: "Families in the North East have seen their energy bills go through the roof as a result of our exposure to volatile gas prices. "The only way to make British people better off in the long term is by securing clean, homegrown power that we control."
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