A group of local residents opposed to the construction of a solar farm at Benridge Farm got in touch with me and the parish council clerk recently to look at ways we can work together on a campaign to urge residents to register their objections to the proposal.
Background details to the planning application that would see a solar farm built on a significant expanse of productive arable land around Benridge Farm on Fillpoke Lane between High Hesleden and Crimdon can be found here in a post I published a few weeks ago: Benridge Solar Farm planning application submitted
Last week I met with the residents group and the parish council clerk to discuss the planning application for the solar farm in more detail, and also look at how we can encourage residents to contact the local planning authority (in this case Durham County Council) with their own objections.
The main points of interest (and objection) raised last week included concerns about the impact the solar farm would have on nearby settlements, primarily in Blackhall Rocks, Monk Hesleden, High Hesleden and Hesleden, but also in neighbouring communities where the noise and disruption from the solar farm would likely have a considerable impact, both during the construction phase and also when the solar farm is up and running. It was noted that a solar farm operation in nearby Hulam and Sheraton had generated considerable noise which is having a negative impact on residents in neighbouring villages.
Apart from discussing and registering our own objections we felt it was vital to make as many residents as possible aware of the Benridge solar farm plans, and also to encourage them to make the planning authority aware of any concerns they might have too.
I've listed further down this post some of the concerns raised last week, and I'll be forming them into my own letter of objection soon. In the meantime if you have any concerns about this proposal, or if you're unsure about how to register your objections, please look out for the campaign page on Facebook where you can find examples of objection letters submitted so far: Residents against Filpoke Lane Solar Farm (Benridge Farm)
The main objections to the solar farm planning application are formed around what are known as material planning considerations which the planning committee will need to rely on if we are to be successful in persuading them of our argument. For example, there may well be claims that a development of this nature will have a negative effect on property values. That is a real concern for many residents but unfortunately members of the planning committee cannot use examples like that to reject a planning application.
Instead it was recognised that we'll need to use material planning considerations to convince planning committee members that they should refuse consent to go ahead with the proposed solar farm development. These points of contention should be based mainly on the issues set out below, all of which are included in objections lodged so far and will be covered in more detail in my own letter of objection to be published on this site as soon as it's completed:
- Impact on Agricultural Land
- Impact on Heritage Assets (Visual & Landscape)
- Noise and Disruption (during Construction, Operation and Maintenance)
- BESS (Battery & Energy Storage System)
- Impact of Electromagnetic Fields
- Access and Traffic issues
- Environmental issues (Flora & Fauna)
- Fire Risk (BESS)
- Restrictive Covenants (including Public Rights of Way)
