Spooner Row Message Board

Thanks to whoever started this thread.

261 views and not a single comment!

Is everyone in the local area actually aware of the impact and scale of this project?

Or is it just that no one cares?

This whole area will be cordoned off by a 2.4 metre security fence.

The panels will sit 2M high on ugly steel tables, all 150,000 of them.

So that’s 150,000 solar panels, all the ironmongery and fencing to support them, all the contractors’ vehicles and all no doubt thundering daily through a village near you.

For an idea of what our local landscape will look like unless people object fiercely to this planning application, see what’s happening in Shropshire http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2013/06/29/shropshire-farmers-warming-to-solar-panel-cash-cow/

The fist proposed solar farm on your doorstep is nearly 3 times the size of that in Shropshire.

I notice that a law company is now involved with this planning application, requesting that the local authority provides an urgent Environmental Impact Assessment Screeening Option. If the Local Authority has provided one, why is it not readily available for viewing?

http://info.south-norfolk.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=MNLU3HOQ00X00

There have been various comments about whether wattlefield residents care - certainly not the case - the fact of the matter is lack of communication and the deceitful way in which the scoping exercise has been keep very much under the radar of most of the residents of wattlefield and neighbouring villages.  You are now unable to add any comments on the South Norfolk Council website linked to this application.  The land in question is high grade arable land which will be taken out of food productivity, is virtually unscreened by natural hedgerow, making a development of industrial scale completely visible from all aspects of the land, which is located right in the heart of the village.  The local landscape is flat making it impossible for this development to be "inconspicuous"  and the industrial security screening will be completely out of keeping to the natural landscape, let alone the 3m high panels on metal support systems.  There will also be CCTV sited around the perimeter of the development which will be intrusive for all.  They have cited the potential for grazing animals as a further source of income for the landowner, when actually in practice is impractical and not cost effective to manage.  If South Norfolk District Council allow this industrial scale application then this will open the flood gates for numerous other large scale projects close to other residential developments and could be close to your village next or right in the middle....  The Government have actively stated that "brown" field sites are the preferred locations and there are numerous sites which would have no impact on residential homes or productive arable fields.  The Council are suppose to consider the impact of any development on the local community, who will have no beneficial gain whatsoever only a complete loss of amenities and visual loss caused by the scarred landscape that will be caused by the installation and no amount of screening will conceal the industrial image as it will take over 15 years to reach maturity.  Wattlefield is a ancient village linked to Wymondham Abbey, so claiming that it has no significant historical value is inaccurate.