Today I spoke at the Green Hill Solar Farm hearing on behalf of the hundreds of constituents who have contacted me to share their concerns about the proposal.
While many people locally support renewable energy and the transition to a low-carbon future, a number of significant issues have been raised with me about this particular development.
During my representation I highlighted several of the key concerns raised by residents, including:
• The loss of high-quality agricultural land, much of which is classified as “best and most versatile” farmland.
• The scale of the development, covering around 1,200 acres across multiple sites, roughly the size of Heathrow Airport.
• The potential impact on the rural landscape and nearby villages across the area.
• Whether alternative locations, such as warehouse rooftops, industrial buildings and brownfield land, have been fully considered before productive farmland is taken out of use for decades.
I also raised concerns about the potential impact on heritage sites, wildlife habitats, rural roads and countryside access used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
It was important to ensure that the voices of local communities were clearly represented as part of the process, and I was proud to speak on behalf of so many of my constituents.