Only a few days remain to submit initial comments on a plan to create a major solar farm in the Eden area which some fear will result in a loss in food production.
Wednesday, 5th March, is the end date of a consultation being run by the firm Noventum Power, acting for landowner Lord Inglewood, over a proposed solar farm on a 120-acre site at High Rigg, near the village of Hutton End, to the north of Hutton-in-the-Forest.
Noventum says the consultation is in line with its commitment to “engaging with local residents and gathering feedback before submitting a formal planning application to Westmorland and Furness Council” — although some local residents say only a very limited number of them have been invited to take part and at very short notice.
A public consultation drop-in event on the scheme was held by Noventum on Thursday, 13th February, at Hutton End village hall. One local resident estimated that 30 to 40 people attended, but believes more would have done so had the leaflet publicising it been more widely distributed and at an earlier stage.
At the drop-in — announced just five days beforehand — it was revealed that the proposed solar farm would consist of south-facing solar PV panels mounted on racks and arranged in rows, with each a maximum of 3m from the ground. It would have a capacity of 30MW — enough to power 14,500 homes.
Also on the site would be inverter cabinets, a substation, control room, perimeter deer fencing and infrared CCTV. Trees would be planted to break up the appearance of the scheme, hedgerows created to “entrench” field boundaries and a buffer zone included next to a Special Area of Conservation.
It was stated that, according to a soil survey, the area in question is grade five land — of very poor agricultural quality — and “Noventum Power are happy to discuss potential further on or off-site benefits for the local community”. However, one of those attending the event, Alan Dickinson, who farms next to High Rigg, is confident the site is actually productive grade three land, suitable for grazing livestock and growing both root crops and grain. “I’m not at all against solar, but it shouldn’t take good agricultural land out of production — that’s some of the best in the area,” he said.
A similar view was expressed by Adam Day, managing director of the Farmer Network, who said: “The loss of 120 acres of good productive farmland — which this is — might not be seen as much of a loss to food production in Cumbria, but schemes like this and other new land uses are taking land away from farming by the day.
“Now more than ever we need a sensible conversation about food security and a viable future for farmers in Cumbria.”
Noventum has since revealed that “a second opinion is being sought with regard to the agricultural land classification”.
Mr Dickinson also believes a solar farm on the site would cause glare and be very visible from the surrounding area. He says there are more suitable sites nearby, one being the former BBC station immediately to the west of High Rigg.
He was unhappy over the lack of any commitment regarding benefits to the local community, saying other wind and solar schemes have offered much more to nearby residents.
He added: “These leaflets about the meeting at Hutton End did not go out until very late and many homes did not receive them. This scheme should be paused until another soil survey has been carried out.”
Further comment on the proposal, including from local parish councils, will be sought after a formal planning application has been submitted.
Further information on the proposal can be found at www.noventumpower.co.uk/projects/high-rigg-solar-farm/
Anybody wishing to contribute to the Noventum consultation should email consultations@laurenceassociates.co.uk
