Latest news with #StopBotleyWest
BBC News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Botley West campaigners join national walk against solar farms
Campaigners against plans to build one of Europe's largest solar farms have joined a nationwide community walk to protest against the potential impact of the West Solar Farm could cover about 1,000 hectares (2,471 acres) of countryside at three sites in west Oxfordshire if Photo Vault Development Partners (PVDP) say large-scale solar energy is crucial to meet the UK's climate targets, with the site capable of producing enough to power the equivalent of 330,000 those opposed to the scheme say the plans are "not necessary" and not "in the interests of the local community". Rosemary Lewis, who is part of the Stop Botley West campaign, told the BBC during the walk that solar energy "isn't the best solution for this country"."It [the proposal] makes me feel very sad - not just for our generation, but for future generations because solar [power] has almost begun to have its day," she added that the proposal had "not really been thought out carefully enough" by PVDP, as within the next 40 years solar power would be "obsolete technology". A fellow campaigner on the walk said: "Most of the land that those panels will be covering is good agricultural land, and its just not right - we need solar panels on roofs of new houses, not on the fields.""There's a right place for these sorts of things, and a right size - and this [proposal] just isn't it," another £800m farm would see panels installed in countryside north of Woodstock, west of Kidlington and west of been designated as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, the proposals are currently being evaluated by the director Mark Owen-Lloyd previously told the BBC: "We are confident this project will make a significant contribution towards the UK's ambitious solar generation targets."Addressing concerns around the site's scale and visibility, Mr Owen-Lloyd previously said the solar farm would be hidden in fields and behind hedges, and that people "would not notice it is there". You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
5 days 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
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Botley West 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 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." Developer 'stopped listening' 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.
