The leader of South Holland District Council said it would not be bullied into becoming a dumping ground for solar farms as one was rejected.
The plans for the 49.4MW, 271 acre site at Caudwell Farm in Holbeach St Matthews were refused by a meeting of the authority’s Planning Committee last night (Tuesday March 4).
Leader Coun Nick Worth, speaking at the meeting as ward member for the area, said: “There are very few houses in the vicinity so we can’t be accused of ‘nimbyism’.
“It’s about something more important – food production.
“We should be growing more, not less.
“We will not be bullied by the secretary of state and become a dumping ground for solar panels.
“Farming and food is far more important than energy.”
Councillors had been recommended to refuse the application with planning officer Maxine Simmonds saying: “There isn’t enough evidence to say why this land should be selected ahead of lower grade agricultural land.”
Resident Brian Smith spoke in objection to the application.
“This unique land is the wheat and vegetable basket of Britain,” he said. “276 acres would provide 1,000 tonnes of wheat, 9,000 tonnes of potatoes in the same year.
“The visual damage will be substantial.”
Matthew Bailey, speaking on behalf of applicant Green Energy International, told the meeting: “We understand the concern but the reason to refuse rests on one point, the perceived loss of agricultural land.
“This proposed development uses 0.005 per cent of England’s prime agricultural land. That’s the equivalent of a door mat on a Premier League football pitch.
“Yet that door mat is being treated as the tipping point of food security.
“That simply isn’t the case.
“The UK produces 75 per cent of its indigenous food according to DEFRA.
“The remaining gap isn’t due to land availability; it’s due to the demand for food we can’t even grow in this country.”
“At the end of the project’s life the land will be in a better condition than it is today.
“We’re not replacing farming we’re enhancing it, alongside securing our energy future.
“This decision is now about choosing between farming and energy; it’s a planning decision based on fact, not fear.”
Councillors unanimously voted to refuse the application.
Coun Henry Bingham said: “The company isn’t doing it to save the planet, it’s about making money.
“The only reason they’re here in South Holland is because it’s flat and cheap.”
Coun Bryan Alcock added: “It’s all very well quoting it’s in infinitesimal piece of land but when you add them together it is a significant piece of land being used for this sort of thing.
“We all recognise a farmer will diversify due to the state of farming, we understand that, but there’s other things they can diversify in.”
