Campaigners challenge a proposed solar farm for Hatton

Campaigners are challenging a proposal for a new Solar park to be placed in the area.

The Solar park is planned to inhabit the farm land located behind the village of Hatton.

Today the locals will have their chance to voice their concerns and speak directly with the local MP for Gainsborough, Sir Edward Leigh.

The village affected is called Hatton, located between the towns of Wragby and Horncastle in the East Lindsey District, accessed by the A158 road to Skegness. The Solar farm’s proposals suggest owner and developer PUSH will lease the farm land adjacent to Sotby Woods on a 40 year temporary basis.

As the UK is looking for more ways to because renewable and meet targets for net zero carbon emissions it is thought Solar will help with this.

PUSH are looking to inhabit 129 acres of land to place solar panels, that produce a nominal AC capacity of 49.99 MW, that will be sent to the national grid, expected to power approximately 21,000 homes.

They also claim the clean, renewable electricity will help East Lindsey District Council meet its target of net zero carbon emissions by 2040.

The owner of the land uses the area to grow wheat dispite forms suggesting the land is not used. The area is also mostly of a Grade 2 listing soil which means that it is good for producing crops and growing healthy plants.

The campaigners are mainly from the small hamlet of Hatton and have expressed that they are not against renewable sources of energy, but rather are against the use of farmland for these parks, leading to the campaign No Solar on Farmland. The local villagers are now part of a Solar Industrial Unit Action Group that looks to explore the disadvantages of Solar farms and decide whether the development will be a benefit to the are, county and country. Ruchira Yarsley is leading the campaign and a spokesperson for the SIU Action Group:

"When you walk through this village, you realise how absolutely stunning it is, and it's absolutely criminal to not think about the countryside.

"Yes, energy is important, nobody is saying it's not needed, is it needed on arable land is my question. Is that where we should put 129 acres of it?"

Ruchira continued:

“How does this benefit this community? With the exception of an eyesore, with the exception of taking away arable land, with the exception of destroying the ecology, with the exception of impeding our lives on a daily basis."

On the website of Hatton Solar Farm they state the benefits include:

“The Hatton Solar Farm scheme will represent an important contribution to meeting the UK's legally binding target under the Climate Change Act 2008 to achieve 'net zero' carbon emissions by 2050.

"To meet this target, the UK Government continues its support for the development of renewable energy projects in the United Kingdom. Increasing renewable energy projects in the UK will contribute to energy security, ensuring the nation’s growing economic development and energy demands are met.

"Diversifying the current UK energy mix ensures that the nations’ demand is met with low prices. According to the UK Government, in 2019, UK emissions were 42 per cent lower than in 1990, while our economy over the same period grew by 72 per cent. This means we can achieve economic development without contributing to climate change by supporting renewable energy projects".

And that the project is well suited for the area:

“This site has been carefully selected as part of a detailed feasibility process which includes the consideration of grid capacity, sunlight irradiation and material planning considerations including; cultural heritage, ecology and biodiversity, flood risk, landscape visual impact and land grading.

"A variety of technical surveys are being carried out to confirm that the land is suitable for solar energy farm use. The area has a technically and commercially viable grid connection. The area benefits from a nearby point of connection to the electricity network, avoiding excessive and unnecessary disruption and roadworks."