A BID to build a major solar farm south of Carlisle has sparked hundreds of objections.
Locals have hit out at the controversial proposals for a 130-acre solar farm in the countryside at High Rigg, Hutton End, between Carlisle and Penrith, with some claiming it will be equivalent to 70 football pitches in size.
The proposal is on land owned by Lord Inglewood, whose estate is at Hutton-in-the-Forest.
A planning application has been submitted by renewable energy developer Noventum Power, whose head office is in London, with the consultation period extended to September 5.
According to the planning documents, it is likely that the solar farm will have a lifespan of 40 years with one of the conditions the land be returned to its original state.
However, the proposed scheme, which could provide power to around 12,750 homes, has triggered a significant public backlash.
More than 200 public comments have been submitted to Westmorland and Furness Council with concerns about impact on local farming, habitat, road safety during construction, and the effect on the landscape.
Val Underwood of Bents Cottage, Calthwaite, told The Cumberland News that road safety was a huge concern with HGVs having to use local country roads.
Another objector is the tenant at Highrigg Farm, John Armstrong, where the family have been dairy farmers since February 1946. He claims that access to the site is ‘totally unsuitable’ for HGV use, with the developer wanting access through Highrigg Farm yard passing within 3ft of their house door. He claims that the access road would then pass through a cattle and sheep handling area causing a biosecurity risk.
When approached by The Cumberland News, the hereditary peer, Richard Inglewood, a former vice lord-lieutenant of Cumbria said ‘lengthy professional discussions had taken place over several months with the farm tenant’.
Alex MacLachlan, associate director at Savills Carlisle, who are representing Lord Inglewood, said the landlord and the tenant had been having dialogue relating to the solar farm for many months and were ‘moving forward’.
But Mrs Underwood went on to say two public meetings held over recent months by Noventum Power Ltd could not reveal what would happen to the current tenant farmer.
“Are the family to be evicted? If not how will they be able to pay their rent if they can’t farm in this area? There is much concern and anger about this family’s plight and a lot of concern that other tenants might also be given notice or evicted? We asked these questions but they were not answered.”
Mrs Underwood added: “This solar farm will drastically change the appearance of open countryside in the area, particularly when installed on 130 acres of agricultural land, and will lead to the destruction of habitats for the butterflies on the SSSi (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and for the fledgling red squirrel population.
“The development will not reduce local bills at all and there is no promise of local jobs and if permission is granted there is no reason to turn down any other similar developments – many more tenants and arable land will be at risk.”
Another resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, claimed the solar farm will be using prime agricultural land which is among the best grade of land for growing crops in the area. “The panels will negate this and it will just be suitable for grazing of sheep.
Productive farm land for livestock and crops is being severely depleted with various Government policies to the point where the UK is less than 50 per cent self sufficient in food.
“The size of the development is huge and it will be completely out of character with this very rural area of Eden. It will no doubt be visible from high on the surrounding fells with the large amount of reflective panels for the electricity generation. It is quite shocking that a local estate/landowner is adopting this policy on one of their tenanted farms. It’s a big NO from me.”
Adam Day, managing director of The Farmer Network, said it was ‘increasingly worrying’ that nature and net zero schemes now trump farming and food production at every turn.
“I’m staggered that no one is even thinking to question our future food security and the effects on the local economy and community as we continue to lose productive farmland,” he said.
“I understand why landed estates are keen to take rented farms back in hand at any opportunity. There is far more profit in nature and net zero than a hard-working farming family can afford to pay in rent on the same land, but few consider what that farm business is delivering and supporting, and what we lose when they have gone.”
Skelton parish councillor and farmer at North Netherscales Farm, Hutton End, Alan Dickinson, said the application was on the neighbouring farm to his, and they were tenants of the same landowner as his farm.
He said in his objections to the council that the proposed development would be a “visual carbuncle” on the landscape of a grass and arable farming area.
There was also concern, he added, over the amount of sunlight glaring off the solar panels, which was “unacceptable”.
