Latest news with #MarianneOverton
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Concern over impact of large-scale solar farm
Councillors have joined campaigners in voicing concerns over plans for a large-scale solar farm in Lincolnshire. The proposed 1,280-hectare Springwell Solar Farm, between Lincoln and Sleaford, would be about nine times the size of London's Hyde Park, with a capacity of 800MW, as well as battery storage. The developers, EDF Renewables UK and Luminous Energy, said it could power 180,000 homes and help the transition to renewable energy. Opponents said the sheer scale of the development would lead to the loss of farmland and leave an "enormous scar" on the countryside. Due to the size of the project, the final decision will be made by the government. However, at a meeting on Tuesday, officials from North Kesteven District Council agreed to send a list of objections to the planning inspectorate to highlight their concerns. These include loss of farmland, the impact on the landscape and concerns about the safety of the lithium-ion batteries. Councillor David Suiter told the meeting: "If you look at a map, it will leave an enormous scar on North Kesteven – the scale is quite alarming. "There is a climate emergency, but putting solar farms on agricultural land is not the only solution," he said. Councillor Marianne Overton added: "There are so many better options to fulfil net-zero requirements – this is just ridiculous." She claimed more than 40% of the proposed site was "good farmland". "It's a very big site – that's an awful lot of food we're not growing and will need to import," she said. Another councillor criticised the planning process. Councillor Ian Carrington told the meeting: "If you want to build a chicken farm, you need planning permission. "But if you want to bring tons of highly toxic materials formed into batteries which may or may not be fire-safe, you can plonk them down in the middle of the countryside." The proposals previously attracted criticism from local residents. Local MPs have also voiced their opposition to large-scale energy projects in the county. Public meetings are likely to be held later this year, and a decision could be made early next year, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. New solar farm on outskirts of town is approved Council leader hits back in solar farm land debate Huge solar farm planned across county border Protest staged over plans for huge solar farm North Kesteven District Council Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
02-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Concern over impact of large-scale solar farm in Lincolnshire
Councillors have joined campaigners in voicing concerns over plans for a large-scale solar farm in proposed 1,280-hectare Springwell Solar Farm, between Lincoln and Sleaford, would be about nine times the size of London's Hyde Park, with a capacity of 800MW, as well as battery developers, EDF Renewables UK and Luminous Energy, said it could power 180,000 homes and help the transition to renewable said the sheer scale of the development would lead to the loss of farmland and leave an "enormous scar" on the countryside. Due to the size of the project, the final decision will be made by the at a meeting on Tuesday, officials from North Kesteven District Council agreed to send a list of objections to the planning inspectorate to highlight their include loss of farmland, the impact on the landscape and concerns about the safety of the lithium-ion David Suiter told the meeting: "If you look at a map, it will leave an enormous scar on North Kesteven – the scale is quite alarming."There is a climate emergency, but putting solar farms on agricultural land is not the only solution," he Marianne Overton added: "There are so many better options to fulfil net-zero requirements – this is just ridiculous."She claimed more than 40% of the proposed site was "good farmland"."It's a very big site – that's an awful lot of food we're not growing and will need to import," she councillor criticised the planning Ian Carrington told the meeting: "If you want to build a chicken farm, you need planning permission."But if you want to bring tons of highly toxic materials formed into batteries which may or may not be fire-safe, you can plonk them down in the middle of the countryside."The proposals previously attracted criticism from local MPs have also voiced their opposition to large-scale energy projects in the meetings are likely to be held later this year, and a decision could be made early next year, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New homes approved in 'flood-prone' village
Plans for 35 new homes have been approved in a village with a history of flooding despite concerns from residents about them making the problem worse. North Kesteven District Council gave the green light to Grainfield Developments Ltd's plans for Station Road, Digby, at a meeting on Tuesday. The council's planning committee said they would "almost certainly" lose an appeal if they refused the application, despite the area being flooded during Storm Babet in 2023. Martin Elvin, who lives close to the site, said Digby was a "flood-prone area". He told the committee: "We are classed as Zone 1 [the least at risk] but that doesn't reflect the true amount of problems. "Large numbers have also suffered with problems with the local sewerage system, which would be exacerbated by more homes." Councillor Marianne Overton said she felt "uneasy" about extra homes in a village with flooding problems. Councillor James Bourne, who sits on Digby Parish Council, added there needed to be a "serious overhaul of infrastructure" if new homes were being built. He said: "This is a lovely village and we recognise it needs new development to survive. "This application seems to rely on regular inspections and maintenance to protect flooding – perhaps it's not in the right place if it needs this?" However Robert Doughty, speaking for the applicant, stated the development would not increase the risk to existing local homes, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. "The previous flooding has all been down to specific circumstances which the application site isn't connected to," he said. Several members said they had not seen proof that the development would make flooding problems any worse. Councillor Richard Wright said: "There's no reason to refuse the application that will stand up to scrutiny [during an appeal]." Twelve members of the committee voted in favour of the application, one voted against and one abstained. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
05-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
New homes approved in 'flood-prone' Digby
Plans for 35 new homes have been approved in a village with a history of flooding despite concerns from residents about them making the problem Kesteven District Council gave the green light to Grainfield Developments Ltd's plans for Station Road, Digby, at a meeting on council's planning committee said they would "almost certainly" lose an appeal if they refused the application, despite the area being flooded during Storm Babet in Elvin, who lives close to the site, said Digby was a "flood-prone area". He told the committee: "We are classed as Zone 1 [the least at risk] but that doesn't reflect the true amount of problems."Large numbers have also suffered with problems with the local sewerage system, which would be exacerbated by more homes."Councillor Marianne Overton said she felt "uneasy" about extra homes in a village with flooding James Bourne, who sits on Digby Parish Council, added there needed to be a "serious overhaul of infrastructure" if new homes were being built. He said: "This is a lovely village and we recognise it needs new development to survive."This application seems to rely on regular inspections and maintenance to protect flooding – perhaps it's not in the right place if it needs this?"However Robert Doughty, speaking for the applicant, stated the development would not increase the risk to existing local homes, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service."The previous flooding has all been down to specific circumstances which the application site isn't connected to," he said. Several members said they had not seen proof that the development would make flooding problems any Richard Wright said: "There's no reason to refuse the application that will stand up to scrutiny [during an appeal]."Twelve members of the committee voted in favour of the application, one voted against and one to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
