Appeal hearing into major solar farm under way in Northamptonshire
North Northamptonshire Council turned down the plans in October 2024, against the advice of its planning officers.Wendy Brackenbury, who was chair of the council's planning committee when the application was considered, told the hearing: "This is a speculative development proposal on a greenfield site, which would result in the loss of good quality agricultural land and would present significant pressures on the local highway network as well as causing irreversible harm to the amenity and character of the local area."
The hearing is looking at four main areas: the impact on a special protection area (SPA), impact on the landscape, use of agricultural land and access and highways matters.Much of the opening day's discussion focused on whether the proposed site was "functionally linked land".This is a term used to describe areas of land that, while not officially designated as protected, are critical for supporting biodiversity and ecological processes of nearby protected sites. According to the council's report on the application, eight designated sites of nature conservation importance are located within 5km (3.1miles) of the proposed development site.A statement from the Cheney family, who own the land and have farmed the site since 1938, was read out to the inquiry.It said the decision to allow the solar farm "was not made lightly" and they "deliberately selected the poorest quality land on the holding".They added the project was "not about abandoning farming, it is about preserving it".Stuart Fyfe, a long-time resident who lives close to the site, told the hearing he was opposed to the solar farm and that he would "protect my home at all costs".John Franklin, who lives in Titchmarsh, added: "I am deeply concerned about the devastating effects that the proposed development will have on the countryside and wildlife."A site visit is expected to take place on Wednesday.The planning inspector's verdict will be released on an unspecified date following the hearing.
Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
21 minutes ago
- The Independent
Top Tory says 16-year-olds shouldn't vote because it will ‘distract them from exams'
A senior Tory has warned 16 and 17-year olds should not be allowed to vote because it will distract them from their exams. Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho said if the voting age is lowered teenagers, will face choosing between focusing on their studies or 'staying up to watch political debates'. The senior MP said elections are often in May, June and July and warned pupils do not need 'this added pressure of being dragged into politics '. The voting age is to be lowered to 16 in time for the next election, the government has announced in a move that would allow around 1.5 million more teenagers to cast a ballot. The change will bring UK-wide elections in line with Scotland and Wales by the time the country next goes to the polls, due by the summer of 2029 at the latest. The 'seismic' development, which is part of a raft of measures set to be introduced through a new Elections Bill, is the biggest change to the electorate since 1969 when the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18. Keir Starmer encouraged 16 and 17 year olds to use their vote at next election. No 10 said the PM would 'absolutely encourage them to be as engaged as they can be in the future of their country'. Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner said: 'For too long public trust in our democracy has been damaged and faith in our institutions has been allowed to decline. 'We are taking action to break down barriers to participation that will ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in UK democracy… and delivering on our manifesto commitment to give 16-year-olds the right to vote.' Sixteen-year-olds already work, pay taxes and serve in the military, ministers point out. But, speaking to Times Radio, Ms Coutinho said: 'Can you imagine saying, OK, I've got this right. It's a new right. I've got exam season coming up, but maybe I should stay up to watch this political debate. 'Maybe I should be out there campaigning. Personally, I think 18 is the right age. I have no problem with politicians wanting to compete for younger votes…but I don't think you have a massive difference between 18 and 16. And like I say, most 16, 17 year olds are going to be in exam season. And I just don't think it is the right thing for them.' She added: 'The thing that I worry about and I might be speaking as a new mum is that it's exam season; elections are often in May, June, July and I don't really think 16 and 17 year olds need this added pressure of being dragged into politics.'
The Independent
21 minutes ago
- The Independent
Essex Police aware of video which appears to show vehicle drive into protester
Police have confirmed a video which appeared to show a police vehicle drive into a protester in Essex has been reported to them. It comes after violent clashes outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, which is believed to house asylum seekers, in recent days. On Thursday night, eight officers were injured during altercations between protesters and police with those hurt sustaining injuries to their hands as well as cuts and grazes. A video circulating on social media on Thursday evening appeared to show a police vehicle as it drove towards a number of protesters who were standing in the road, before appearing to collide with at least one person. Essex Police Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper told the PA news agency the video had been reported to the force, but said they had seen another video 'which maybe shows it from a different angle'. 'And I guess the angles and perceptions show a different thing,' he added. 'So I'm not sure that exact incident is as it's been reported in the media.' The police chief promised to hold criminals to account for 'selfish and mindless' violence and vandalism following the events on Thursday night. A group of protesters started with a peaceful demonstration in Epping town centre, before moving onto the Bell Hotel, where things later turned violent. There have been a number of demonstrations outside the hotel since Essex Police charged 38-year-old asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu with sexual assault following an incident where he is alleged to have attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl. He denied the charge when he appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Thursday. Mr Hooper said his team were now combing through CCTV to identify those responsible 'for assaults on our staff, through to damage and abhorrent language that was used'. 'Then we can start knocking on doors and bring those involved to justice that were responsible for that selfish criminality,' he said. 'But we also want to work with the community to facilitate people using their voice in peaceful protests.' At a press conference on Friday, Mr Hooper spoke of two people who have been arrested – one on suspicion of affray following reports of an assault during a protest on Sunday, and the other for failing to comply with dispersal orders. Mr Hooper said the man accused of affray, 65-year-old Dean Walters, has since been charged and the second suspect remains in custody. During a protest on Sunday, fireworks were let off and eggs were thrown outside the hotel. On Friday afternoon, a security guard remained on site at the Bell Hotel, opening the gate in the fencing and the door of the hotel to let people in and out. Fencing has since been put up to surround the hotel, accompanied with no entry signs. There are also warnings forbidding photography and filming in the vicinity of the hotel. Broken glass and remnants of flares remain on the ground from the incident. Mr Hooper believes that, although there are polarised views in Epping surrounding the hotel holding asylum seekers, a lot of those responsible for the violence came from further afield. He said: 'We actually saw last night we believe outsiders from our communities. People have come from outside their local areas into Epping to commit acts of violence and damage. 'That was really disappointing to see, because we know our communities wanted a voice and wanted to tell us what was going on, and they were peaceful in their activity. 'I've seen some of the social media comments and spoken to a number of members of the community, and there are polarised views. 'But it's our role as police to be independent and to, without fear or favour, make sure that people have the right to peaceful protest. 'What I won't stand for is those mindless acts of vandalism and violence that we saw and making sure that we are very robust in supporting our communities. 'Our communities don't want to see this violence, and they want to have their voice heard peacefully.' One resident living next to the Bell Hotel, who did not want to be named, said: 'It's all horrible. Epping is a very nice place. 'It is very unfortunate that this has attracted people from outside the area. 'They [those staying in the hotel] haven't given us any safety concerns. The safety concerns are from those protesting. 'The police will be here tonight, they were here last night. 'But I know there's a lot of mixed views in the town about the hotel.'
The Independent
21 minutes ago
- The Independent
UK sanctions Russian spies who ‘targeted Britain in sustained campaign'
Britain has hit more than a dozen Russian spies with a wave of sanctions, targeting those it accused of running a 'sustained campaign' of malicious activity against the UK. The Foreign Office named 18 officers from Russian spy agency the GRU, as well as hitting three of its units with measures aimed at cracking down on Vladimir Putin's increasing aggression abroad. It said the military intelligence officers targeted were 'responsible for spreading chaos and disorder on Putin's orders', and included those who had targeted the family of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal. The officers sanctioned had targeted a device belonging to Mr Skripal's daughter Yulia with malicious malware known as X-Agent five years before GRU attempted to murder them in Salisbury with the deadly Novichok nerve agent. The units are also accused of conducting a prolonged campaign of cyberattacks across Europe, including in Britain, aimed at destabilising the continent and undermining democratic institutions. 'GRU spies are running a campaign to destabilise Europe, undermine Ukraine 's sovereignty and threaten the safety of British citizens," Foreign Secretary David Lammy said. He added: 'The Kremlin should be in no doubt: we see what they are trying to do in the shadows and we won't tolerate it. That's why we're taking decisive action with sanctions against Russian spies.' On 15 March 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, Unit 26165 carried out online reconnaissance on civilian bomb shelters in Mariupol, southern Ukraine and in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry said. One of the targets was the Mariupol theatre. Civilians sheltering inside from Russian bombs had painted the word 'children' outside in the hopes they would be spared. But the next day, the theatre was hit by Russian airstrikes, killing about 600 people, including children, according to an Associated Press investigation. In 2013, officers from the same unit had targeted the daughter of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal with malware, designed to harm or infiltrate computer systems, the foreign ministry said. In 2018, Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok in the English city of Salisbury, in an attack the British government said was organised by Russian intelligence. The sanctions also targeted the Africa Initiative, which the Foreign Ministry said employed Russian intelligence officers to carry out information operations in Africa, including undermining public health programs and destabilising various countries. Russia's campaign of sabotage and disruption across Europe ranges from cyberattacks and propaganda to arson and attempted assassination. Mr Lammy said: 'Putin's hybrid threats and aggression will never break our resolve. The UK and our allies' support for Ukraine and Europe's security is ironclad.' More than 70 different attacks have been attributed to Russia by Western officials since the invasion. The military intelligence units sanctioned Friday also targeted foreign aid to Kyiv, ports, infrastructure and border crossings as well as technology companies, the Foreign Ministry said. Although targeting GRU officers with sanctions is likely to have limited effect, the ministry said the goal is to raise awareness of Russia's campaign and raise the cost to people working for its services, including making it harder for them to travel.
