How much is too much?
Sturton Le Steeple and its surrounding Parish (a small rural community) in North Nottinghamshire is in a Unique situation.
Nowhere else in the country has 4 major infrastructure projects as well as multiple smaller projects descending on residents at the same time.
Whilst other areas in the country may have one or possibly two nationally important projects in their area, we have….
• A major sand and gravel quarry
• The STEP Nuclear Fusion Project
• An already approved Solar Project
• New power lines and pylons as part of the National Grid upgrade.
We have lived in ‘ENERGY VALLEY’ since the 1960’s and we recognise the importance of the transition from our coal and gas power stations to ‘green’ energy production.
We understand that the nearby West Burton National Grid hub provides an enticing site for new forms of low carbon / renewable energy production.
• We welcome UKAEA and the STEP Nuclear Fusion Project to our area which will utilise the existing brownfield site at West Burton and generate jobs.
• We understand the national need for sand and gravel from the Trent Valley riverbed.
• We accept that the huge increase in electricity demand requires new power lines to link into existing National Grid Infrastructure running down the River Trent.
• There is already an approved smaller scale solar project on our highly productive farmland.
• Additionally, there are plans for a gas site and x2 battery storage sites
We are NOT N.I.M.B.Y’s evidenced by our support of the STEP Nuclear Fusion Project and recognise the need for transformation to become England’s ‘GREEN ENERGY VALLEY’, however, it is wholly unacceptable to engulf our community in the process. The Cumulative impact of all these projects together will have a significant negative impact on our environment, local farmers and residents. We stand to lose valuable farmland at a time of food insecurity and beautiful countryside which is integral to the health and wellbeing of our community amidst a National mental health crisis.
To answer the question – to throw in a further HUGE solar project to carpet 88% of the remaining land in the Parish with solar panels is TOO MUCH. The sheer scale of the project is set to swallow a community who are already disproportionately shouldering the impacts of the governments net zero goals and nationally important projects.
We call for authorities to suspend approving any further planning applications for large scale projects that will negatively impact our community, until such time that the necessary strategic planning and documentation is in place. Government has commissioned a committee to write the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan, and a national conversation was launched this year regarding the Land Use Framework. To ‘Build Back Greener’ as outlined in the Governments Net Zero Strategy, there must be appropriate governance and accountability in place to ensure oversight of the complexity, cumulative impact and interdependence of multiple projects that are proposing to link to the West Burton National Grid hub.
Loss of livelihoods
There are 5 tenant farmers across the 2400 acres that will lose the majority, if not all of their land. This will force them out of their professions and in most cases, out of their homes that are connected to the land they farm. Once we lose these dedicated and experienced farmers, whose skills and knowledge have been passed down through generations there is no going back.
Wildlife
Our area is vibrant with fauna, from Deer, to birds of prey, hares, rabbits and a plethora of different bird species too many in number to list. The impact of industrial solar development on local wildlife will be devastating, leading to many species becoming displaced from their natural habitats.
Local Beauty
If agricultural land and green open spaces fall into the hands of investors who seek to profit from the land by commercial or industrial development, the beauty of these local areas will be lost forever.
For those of us lucky enough to appreciate the countryside on a daily basis, or those who visit to enjoy the serenity of the environment to be at one with nature and away from the claustrophobic urban conurbations for a while will no longer recognize what it will become. A vast and barren sea of glass and metal divided up into compounds surrounded by security fencing and CCTV cameras. Existing footpaths and bridleways will inevitably change, but then who might want to go for a ride or a stroll through an industrial estate anyway?