The "7000 Acres Group" is a collection of concerned residents from over 30 villages in and around the footprint of the West Burton, Cottam, Tillbridge and Gate Burton Solar Farm projects. This group has been formed to help guide all those affected to be part of the consultation and planning process and to raise awareness of the negative impacts that such large scale Solar Farms will have on the local farming activies, the UK's food security and the UK as a whole.
"The three solar plant proposals are utterly inappropriate. By building on quality agricultural land, we will destroy a natural resource in the heart of England’s green and pleasant land".
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Sir Edward Leigh, MP for Gainsborough
Since this statement was made, a 4th solar project, another Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) has started consultation.
THE KEY ISSUES
(Click on the links below for more information)
LOSS OF
SOURCING
SAFETY
These proposed Solar Sites cover an area of approximately 10 thousand acres of land around Gainsborough, stretching from Gringley in the west across to Hemswell in the east, and going as far south as Torksey. The Group have come together to raise awareness of the scope and scale of these projects and to put forward the argument that the size of the proposed developments is totally unsuitable for the area. The projects due to their vast scale/size will not be under the remit of the Local Planning Authorities but the National Infrastructure Planning Authority. As part of this process the community are allowed to voice and submit their structured thoughts, feelings and opinions.
We believe that solar is a good thing and are fully in support of it but not at the price of taking away much needed food producing farmland surrounding rural villages with acre upon acre of industrial solar sites. We want Government and planning to have a much more thoughtful. innovative, structured and robust approach instead of a knee jerk policy of taking away food producing green spaces. Many other countries are being far more thoughtful about renewable energy and have an understanding that food and renewable's go hand in hand. We could achieve national solar targets by having a roof top solar policy for houses/commercial buildings and utilisation of the many brownfield sites just like other countries!
We need you to join us and have your say on all projects to protect our farmland, habitat, landscape and well being!
You can find out more information on these project's throughout our website and get an understanding of the process for a National Infrastructure planning application here.
There will also be an impact on property prices in the areas affected.
If you need help or have any questions please don't hesitate to contact us. ​