The solar company BayWa r.e is holding a drop-in public consultation regarding the solar development in Long Sutton at:
Long Sutton village hall on Thursday, April 20th from 2 pm to 7.30 pm
We thought it would be useful to update you on the current situation and to provide a few suggested themes for discussion in advance of the meeting. The latest plan can now be seen on BayWa’s website in advance of the drop-in date. See this link:
https://www.baywa-re.co.uk/en/solar/fleet-solar-farm#project-information
This new plan bears many similarities to the original scheme but now shows an additional piece of solar panel land on the other side of the main Alton Road towards Ford Farm at Four Lanes End. Correspondingly, the land on the left of Hayley Lane as one comes into the village appears to have been abandoned as a potential location. The routes of high-voltage cables are also marked on the plan. The route to Mill Lane sub-station is shown mainly following public roads. The location of the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) building (likened in conversation to a “tractor shed”) is not yet shown.
Our Action Group was set up because we felt that the overwhelming sentiment in the village was against the location of a solar development in and around our village. Whilst we are wholly in favour of renewable energy as a general principle, we think that local authorities should develop carefully considered plans for solar installations rather than support indiscriminate and haphazard developments in their districts. There is a presumption in favour of approval of such applications however and Hart’s declaration of a net zero objective makes resistance that much more difficult.
It is positive that BayWa r.e is holding this consultation because it enables us to express our opposition to the development, but we must be aware that any kind of acquiescence given at the drop-in may be miss-expressed as approval when the developer submits its planning application. Please consider using the following points themes and questions as prompts for discussion at the drop-in:
- We are fundamentally opposed to the proposal for this solar farm in its entirety.
- Any suggestions we make for mitigation, (for example pushing back boundaries) are to be taken in that context and are without prejudice to our fundamental opposition.
- Food security has become a much bigger issue since this proposal was first aired due to the war in Ukraine. We think that good agricultural land (and most of this land is grade 3 land) should be used for food production. Several applications have recently been defeated on this ground.
- Whilst there is no legal right to a view from your house, if views into this historic village from roads and public footpaths are prejudiced that is solid ground for a refusal.
- Hart has already approved three solar developments. How many more are needed to satisfy its net zero requirements? We think it should take a more considered view of new applications and be more selective about what it approves.
- This is a small Hampshire village surrounded by beautiful countryside. The amenity nature of the surrounding land and the footpaths over it would be irreparably damaged if this development were to be approved.
- Would the development be fenced? How high would the fences be? What would they look like?
- What would happen to footpaths which cross the chosen land? Would they be diverted? If left as they are would one effectively have to walk down a “tunnel” with fences on both sides?
- What do the solar panel structures look like? How high are they? Do they move or rotate? Does that make a noise? Does any of the ancillary equipment make a noise?
- What is the proposed location of the BESS building? What are its dimensions? Is there a picture of what it might look like?
- How long would construction take? How would construction traffic be managed, particularly during school terms? How will schoolchildren be protected? How will verges be maintained?
- The chalk pits in the fields proposed for development are special habitats for flora and fauna including badgers, foxes, rabbits, etc. Will these be left as they are with an appropriate area around them and access in and out?
- What happens to the land at the end of the lease? How will it be returned to its natural state? What happens to the panels and structures themselves?
- How will it affect the Long Sutton Conservation area and listed buildings within the village?
Next Week
Ward Councillors and representatives of the Parish Council have been invited to a virtual meeting the day before the drop-in. The idea is apparently to brief them in isolation on BayWa’s plans and to ask for their comments. Naturally, you are at liberty to speak to Parish and District Councillors in advance of that meeting if you so wish.
On the day
We are proposing to keep a record of visitors to the village hall next week so that we can counter any inappropriate claims made subsequently by the developer. Weather permitting, we will sit outside the hall and ask you what you said (i.e. for or against). It goes without saying that this is entirely optional and not in any way meant to be intrusive. If you wish to let us know in advance that you do not wish to share anything with us, please let us know. It is vital that as many people as possible attend this “drop-in” to show the strength of feeling in the village, so please do all you can to attend.
Letters and Other Representations
We have been advised to wait until the planning application is submitted at which point, we will advise on the most effective way to make representations to Hart District Council.
Funding
Thank you very much for the additional donations received on the GoFundMe website. We are in the process of engaging a new planning consultant. Our funds could disappear fast especially if we commission reports of our own to face off those of the developer. We will keep you posted, but if you have not yet contributed, please do so. Here is the link:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/long-sutton-save-our-landscape
Volunteers
Thank you to those who have volunteered to help. Additional support would be appreciated in due course.
