STOP
WEST WELWYN SOLAR PLANT IN THE AYOTS
***PLANNING APPLICATION IMMINENT***
SOLAR PANELS HAVE A PLACE BUT THAT PLACE IS NOT
ON AYOT'S RURAL GREEN BELT AGRICULTURAL LAND
A planning application is imminent for a solar plant on 100 acres of beautiful green belt land in the Ayots. The solar plant is for the exclusive use of Colt Data Services in Welwyn Garden City, and will generate only 50% of the energy it requires (which could be produced by one offshore wind turbine).
The proposed site comprises fields which have been farmed for generations in the very rural and Green Belt Hertfordshire countryside between Ayot St Lawrence and Ayot St Peter. This open area of countryside is agricultural, criss-crossed by footpaths and enjoyed by walkers, cyclists, horse riders and nature lovers from near and far.
This industrial development involves thousands of 3m high solar panels, security fencing and CCTV cameras, plus the digging and installation of a 5 mile cable from the site into WGC. It will devastate the area and has no benefit to the local community: only to the commercial end user, who could instead get green energy situated on more suitable brownfield - or rooftop - sites direct from the grid.
PLANNING APPLICATION TO BE SUBMITTED SOON
MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT BY OBJECTING TO IT
WE WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN THE APPLICATION IS LIVE
STOP
WEST WELWYN SOLAR PLANT
Representative comments from our survey
"It will put a permanent scar on one of the most beautiful parts of mid Hertfordshire. It is too far from any significant town and the associated infrastructure will cause havoc for the local community. Solar panels are fine in the right place. Put them on the roofs of industrial buildings within the town."
"I love the countryside and enjoy walking, seeing the wildlife - deer, ground nest birds, hares etc. To desiccate this with a solar farm would be appalling. Green Belt should be protected, solar farms can be located in areas alongside motorways, on factory roofs, railway lines etc, not areas which impact wildlife and the beautiful countryside. Doing this for financial gain is, in my opinion, irresponsible."
"It will totally ruin the enjoyment of one of the last genuinely rural villages in this part of Hertfordshire. No longer will we enjoy walks, runs, cycles or horse riding."
"Creating a vast commercial power plant in beautiful country side with limited infrastructure miles away from the proposed electricity end user is mindless destruction of glorious green belt land. I am sure the large number of brownfield sites closer to the end user or the national grid would be much more appropriate."
"Since WW11 this area has suffered from enough "urbanisation". This development will be a loss of a further 100 acres of good agricultural land which we can ill afford."
"The area concerned is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Hertfordshire and would be significantly degraded by the proposed development. It is home to a large number of bird species including skylarks, thrushes, finches and buntings who rely on open fields and hedgerows for feeding and breeding and the livelihood of these species will be severely compromised."
"This Solar Plant will destroy one of the busiest and best bridleways in Hertfordshire that is central to a network of paths that central to, and serves WGC, Wheathampstead, Codicote and Welwyn Village."
"The area & views are appreciated by so many who live in places without access to open spaces. The Solar plant development would be on far too large a scale for the gently rolling countryside & it would completely change the character of the land & would intrude into views from all angles."
"We must preserve this land for the wellbeing and mental health of the local community."