Irish Eyes Are Smiling (All the way to the bank)
As a new massive solar farm is proposed for the Somerset Levels, James Garrett finds there is a spirit of resistance in the air.
Dear readers
Today’s edition of Somerset Confidential® is for our paying subscribers. Much of what we do we think of as a public service. But we still have bills to pay. And as we strive to do more, we have even more bills to pay. You take the point?
We think there is a lot to do. Today’s article clearly demonstrates that. If you’d like to help us do it you can do so here:
So as well as our free service we offer a paid subscription which costs £30 a year. That’s 58p a week, less than the price of a cheap load of bread.
For that you get:
3 extra articles a month (often 4)
The chance to have your say, to comment argue and debate our articles
full access to our back catalogue (it is getting bigger every week)
and the satisfaction of supporting one of Somerset’s most innovative journalism projects.
We like to think of it like this. Support us – and you are supporting a better governed Somerset. You can join and support us here….
Thank you
Andrew Lee - editor
Irish Eyes Are Smiling (All the way to the bank)
by James Garrett
Elgin Energy, would-be developer of solar parks across Somerset, submitted its landscape and visual impact assessment (LVIA) - as required by the local planning authority - for the generating plant it is planning for the Levels.
The controversial Nythe Road scheme was submitted to Somerset Council two years after Elgin first unveiled it to the community it would affect, at Pedwell, near Street. The two-year pause in applying for planning permission has given villagers headaches but also time to marshal their forces and arguments.
Elgin's LVIA states, “The assessment of the breeding bird community at Washford includes a focus on species that are afforded special statutory protection or those included on one, or more, of the lists of species of conservation interest.”
Eh? Washford is, of course, in West Somerset and nowhere near the Levels in general or Pedwell specifically. Why assume that the breeding habits of birds living on coastal farmland are comparable with those of wetland birds?
How did Elgin apparently confuse Pedwell with Washford? Perhaps this has something to do with the company having many solar park projects on the go at the same time.
For instance, it is currently appealing against a decision by Somerset Council planners last summer to refuse permission for a solar park proposed for Washford Cross. There, thousands of panels would cover high-grade farmland, taking it out of production and damaging tenant farmers' livelihoods, as well as ruining views across the picturesque landscape.