logo
Concerns raised over Springwell solar farm plans

Concerns raised over Springwell solar farm plans

BBC News09-05-2025
People living near a proposed solar farm in Lincolnshire have been giving their views at a public hearing.Plans for the Springwell solar farm in North Kesteven have been under scrutiny by government-appointed planning inspectors.The site near Navenby would eventually cover an area the size of 2,800 football pitches.Developers EDF Renewables UK and Luminous Energy said it would power 180,000 homes and help the transition to renewable energy.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the plans have attracted opposition.Dozens of local people attended the hearings at the County Assembly Rooms in Lincoln.Marc Williams, who leads the Springwell Solar Farm Action Group, told LDRS: "The community is so concerned about this. "We usually get two or three people at parish council meetings. Whenever this is on the agenda, 70 or 80 will turn up."Everyone's against it, apart from those who will profit."Conservative councillor Rob Kendrick told the planning inspectors: "The amount of developments are of grave concern to residents."Lincolnshire is marketed as the county of big skies, but it will become the county of big solar. That must have a negative impact on lives and employment."
Representatives for the applicant told the inspectors that the large scale was necessary to make it commercially feasible.The land is owned by the Blankney Estate and the project designs had intentionally avoided Grade One farmland, they added.In a statement, project development manager Rory Carmichael said the firm had made changes to the plans "following extensive consultation and engagement with the community". "During this six-month examination, members of the public can share their views on our updated proposals directly to the Planning Inspectorate in writing, and at public hearings like the ones held this week."We encourage everyone local to the project to have their say."The planning inspectorate will make a recommendation to the government, which is expected to make a final decision by spring 2026.Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Rise in number of Guernsey minimum wage complaints
Rise in number of Guernsey minimum wage complaints

BBC News

time18 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Rise in number of Guernsey minimum wage complaints

A government agency has seen a rise in the number of complaints related to the minimum wage. Director of the Employment and Equal Opportunities Services Ian Gavet said he had been presented nine cases since he began his role in said his predecessors had dealt with just one case in 2023 and one more in the nine cases in 2025 to date, Mr Gavet said three had been dismissed as the minimum wage had been paid and three enforcement notices had been sent to employers because the minimum wage had not been paid. One case had been dismissed because the employer could not be found, one case had been referred for consideration of prosecution and one case was actively being investigated, he said. Mr Gavet said the Employment and Equal Opportunities Service helped employers, employees and trade unions to understand local employment and discrimination minimum wage in Guernsey will increase to £12.60 an hour for adults on 1 October rate for workers aged 17 and 18 will also rise, from £10.80 to £11.35.

Four Jersey food producers win prestigious award
Four Jersey food producers win prestigious award

BBC News

time18 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Four Jersey food producers win prestigious award

Four Genuine Jersey producers have received Great Taste Awards in Jersey Fudge Pot, Jersey Seafood, La Mare Wine Estate and The Smokey Shed have all earned stars from the food and drink accreditation are blind-tasted by a panel of more than 500 industry experts, with the judges scoring on flavour, texture, appearance, and quality of Garton, chief executive of Genuine Jersey, said: "These awards are a fantastic endorsement of the passion, skill, and quality that our members bring to everything they produce." He added: "To have four of our local businesses recognised on such a highly respected national stage is something Jersey can be extremely proud of."

Leeds recycles 75% of glass due to green bin change
Leeds recycles 75% of glass due to green bin change

BBC News

time18 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Leeds recycles 75% of glass due to green bin change

Households in Leeds have recycled 12,000 tonnes of glass since a new collection service began a year ago. Residents have been able to put glass in their green bins since 1 August 2024, as part of Leeds City Council's plan to cut carbon emissions. The authority said the glass recycling levels in the city had increased from 48% to 75% in the first 12 months of the programme, saving 464 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Glass is then sorted at a Leeds plant and re-melted at Yorkshire facilities to produce new bottles and jars, ready for reuse within a month. However, the council has urged residents to recycle even more glass in their green bins, as 25% of all glass is still being put in black bins, according to a spokesperson for the are also 700 glass recycling banks around the city, which can hold up to 3,000 bottles and member for climate, energy, environment and green space Mohammed Rafique said: "The first year of household glass collections has been a big success so we'd like to say a big thank you to everyone in Leeds for their efforts."Let's all work together to make the second year of glass collections even more successful than the first, to help the environment and the Yorkshire economy so that everyone wins." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store