Latest news with #NationalGrid
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Huge solar farm will cause major harm, says council
A large-scale solar farm would cause "major harm lasting generations" and should be "dramatically reduced" in size, a council has said. Botley West Solar Farm would cover about 1,000 hectares (2,471 acres) of countryside at three sites in west Oxfordshire. In its final written representation to the government, the district council will say the proposals are "detrimental" to the area. Developer PVDP said it "disagreed" with the local authority and had made several changes to the proposed locations of solar panels. The project - which would see panels installed in countryside north of Woodstock, west of Kidlington and west of Botley - is considered a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project. This means the application must be considered by the government, not local councils. West Oxfordshire District Council's local impact report, written in conjunction with other local authorities that cover the proposed sites, listed 10 areas that it believes the farm would negatively impact. These include the historic environment, visual effect on the landscape, noise and vibration and public rights of way. None of the 17 areas listed were given a potential impact rating of "positive", but seven, including hydrology and flooding, were rated as "neutral". Speaking at the council's planning meeting, Rosemary Lewis, chair of Stop Botley West, said: "It is vital to have the support of the local council. "It is good to know here in west Oxfordshire, at least, democracy is alive and well". However, Witney resident Jonathan Ford urged the council to reverse the verdict of their report. "What is the issue of our time if not climate change... [the council should] acknowledge the clear truth, that Botley West will aid climate change mitigation." Speaking to BBC Radio Oxford, council leader Andy Graham said: "If developers listen to the mitigations that could be put in place, we could actually have a win-win." Mr Graham said he wanted to see the proposed site reduced in size by "at least half". "I think the developers have stopped listening... I'm a little disappointed that they just didn't continue the dialogue." However, Mark Owen-Lloyd, director of developer PVDP, denied that his company had not engaged with the council. "We have consistently bowed to what we've been told and removed panels from [several areas].., I think that's unfair to say we haven't listened," he said. Mr Owen-Lloyd added that 30% of the total site would be "mitigation, wildflower meadows and community growing". If approved, PVDP hopes construction of the solar farm will begin in early 2026, with electricity being connected to the National Grid in 2028. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Public inquiry into huge solar farm to begin Huge solar farm plan 'positive and negative' Why is the Botley West solar farm so controversial? Botley West Solar Farm
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Manhole explodes in Lawrence, motorists, pedestrians asked to avoid area
Motorists and pedestrians are being asked to avoid the area of Broadway and Broadford streets after a manhole explosion. According to Lawrence police, National Grid is working the area after the explosion earlier Sunday morning. There are no injuries to report, and police are on scene. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Solar panels 'to cut leisure centre running costs'
Solar panels have been installed on a leisure centre as part of efforts to reduce costs and protect the environment. Workington Leisure Centre in Cumbria has been fitted with 160kW panels, which will provide about 20% of the site's electricity demand. The installation is expected to save money on running costs and generate income by exporting electricity back into the National Grid during periods of low consumption. Cumberland Council's executive member for vibrant and healthy places, Anne Quilter, said the solar panels were one way the council was working to "build a greener, more sustainable future for [its] communities". She said their installation also aligned with the Labour-led local authority's "commitment to tackling the climate emergency and building environmental resilience" across the region. The solar panels were paid for using capital grant funding from the Sport England Swimming Pool Support Fund, which also helped to pay for panels at The Sands Centre in Carlisle. Tom Rice, partnership manager at Greenwich Leisure Limited, which runs the centre, said: "One of our key priorities is to futureproof leisure facilities across [the area] and champion environmental resilience." He said the cost savings made from selling electricity back to the grid would be reinvested back into the leisure centre. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. £2.5m work to replace events space roof to begin Crane brought in to remove Raac from venue's roof Cumberland Council
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Power cuts plunge parts of Penzance into darkness
Hundreds of buildings have lost power in a Cornish seaside town following two separate incidents. National Grid said a power outage was reported just before 19:55 BST in several areas of Penzance town centre including Market Jew Street and New Street which left 712 properties without power. The company added a second outage had been reported just after 20:00 which affected 175 properties on streets including Adelaide Street, Leskinnick Terrace and Penare Road. It said engineers were working to restore power supplies and apologised for any inconvenience caused. In an update at about 21:05, National Grid said 548 properties had power restored. More news stories for Cornwall Listen to the latest news for Cornwall Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ National Grid
BBC News
4 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Power cuts plunge parts of Penzance into darkness
Hundreds of buildings have lost power in a Cornish seaside town following two separate Grid said a power outage was reported just before 19:55 BST in several areas of Penzance town centre including Market Jew Street and New Street which left 712 properties without company added a second outage had been reported just after 20:00 which affected 175 properties on streets including Adelaide Street, Leskinnick Terrace and Penare said engineers were working to restore power supplies and apologised for any inconvenience caused. In an update at about 20:50, National Grid said 371 properties had power restored.
