Latest news with #SaveBotleyWest
Metro
3 days ago
- Politics
- Metro
Locals against a solar farm being built say calling them Nimbys is 'hate speech'
People opposing the building of one of Europe's largest solar farms have said the term 'Nimby' is hate speech. Botley West Solar Farm could cover about 2,470 acres of countryside in west Oxfordshire and power 330,000 homes if approved. But Save Botley West says this would affect 15 villages as well as water meadows and heritage sites across Botley, Woodstock and Kidlington. The anti-solar farm campaign group's chairman, Professor Alex Rogers, has said calling them Nimbys 'alienates' them. Nimbys – 'not in my backyard' – are people who oppose new, sometimes badly needed housing or infrastructure being built near their homes. Sir Keir Starmer wrote in the Metro in January that his government is 'taking on the Nimbys' who 'clog up our system so things can't get built'. Prof Rogers said: 'We've heard the term Nimby bandied about by the Labour government in particular, effectively that is pejorative language deliberately used to alienate and isolate ordinary people who are legitimately concerned about the really serious impacts of what is, in effect, a non-sustainable project. 'I would view a sustainable project as one which obviously benefits the climate, which this does, but also benefits people who live in the region and benefits wider aspects of the environment – and this scheme certainly does not do that.' A website appearing to poke fun at Rogers' group, 'Botley West NIMBYS', was made in 2023, according to internet archives seen by Metro. It says: 'Look, our place is much more special than yours, so you should have all the stuff we don't like near YOU.' Rogers added: 'I do have a message, particularly for the Labour Party, in respect of the use of 'Nimbys' or 'Nimbyism'. 'If you look at the UN definition of hate speech, the use of that term falls within that UN definition, and I think Labour would be appalled if people were using these sorts of terms to alienate other sections of society.' The UN defines hate speech as discriminatory and offensive forms of expression, often targeting people's race, gender, sexuality or class. Save Botley West joined a nationwide walk to protest the farm on Sunday, walking from Blenheim gates to Churchill's grave in Bladon. They wrote to King Charles last month, asking him to intervene on the grounds of an 18th-century law that says the Crown must be consulted to use the land. The King has yet to reply. Developers Photovolt Development Partners say the two million solar panels are vital to meet the government's climate goals amid ever-worsening climate change. The past 10 years have been the 10 hottest in nearly 200 years, with 2024 the hottest on record, fuelling climate-related disasters worldwide. Burning fossil fuels is the main driver of climate change, which is intensifying storms, flooding, heatwaves, wildfires and droughts in the UK. Rogers, a marine biologist at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, says he sees the impact of this in the ocean 'every day'. But he said the solar farm, roughly the size of Heathrow Airport, would impact the area's view. He said: 'Because of the nature of the landscape that this has been put into, which essentially comprises river valleys and hills, it's very, very difficult to conceal this solar farm in the landscape.' Council officials said in an impact report last week that the solar farm would likely have a 'negative' impact on local tourism. The plans are at the examination stage, where representations are being submitted, with Energy Secretary Ed Miliband to make the final decision. Three-quarters of Britons would support a solar farm being built in their local area, a YouGov poll found. There are around 1,3000 operational solar farms in the UK, with solar providing 6% of Britain's energy in the past year, according to the National Grid. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Calling us Nimbys is ‘hate speech', anti-solar campaigner tells Government
The term 'Nimby' is hate speech, the leader of a campaign trying to block Britain's biggest solar farm has said. Prof Alex Rogers, the chair of the Save Botley West community group, is organising efforts to prevent the construction of a £800 million solar farm covering almost 3,500 acres in the Oxfordshire countryside. If approved, it would become the largest in Europe – and equivalent in size to Heathrow Airport. Save Botley West called on the King to intervene on the grounds of an obscure law from the early 18th century. But the 57-year-old marine biologist has hit out against the Government by describing Labour's use of the term 'Nimby' as a form of 'hate speech'. Nimby, which stands for 'not in my backyard', is used to describe people who oppose new housing developments because they live near them. The term has been used by prominent figures in the Government including Sir Keir Starmer, who in January vowed to end a 'challenge culture' against new developments by 'taking on the Nimbys'. Prof Rogers said: 'We've heard the term Nimby bandied about by the Labour Government in particular, effectively that is pejorative language deliberately used to alienate and isolate ordinary people who are legitimately concerned about the really serious impacts of what is, in effect, a non-sustainable project. 'I would view a sustainable project as one which obviously benefits the climate, which this does, but also benefits people who live in the region and benefits wider aspects of the environment - and this scheme certainly does not do that.' He added: 'I do have a message, particularly for the Labour Party, in respect of the use of 'Nimbys' or 'Nimbyism'. 'If you look at the UN definition of hate speech, the use of that term falls within that UN definition, and I think Labour would be appalled if people were using these sorts of terms to alienate other sections of society.' The UN defines hate speech as: 'any kind of communication in speech, writing or behaviour, that attacks or uses pejorative or discriminatory language with reference to a person or a group on the basis of who they are, in other words, based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, colour, descent, gender or other identity factor.' On Sunday, activists opposed to the solar farm are walking from the gates of Blenheim palace to Winston Churchill's grave in Bladon – both of which will be affected by the proposal – in protest. Prof Rogers said although he recognises the severity of climate change, the plans were 'too big' and in 'the wrong place' – and worries about the impact it will have on the local landscape. The proposal is currently at the examination stage where representations are being submitted. The final decision will be made by Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, because Botley West is classified as a nationally significant infrastructure project. The King is yet to respond to the group's letter.
