In September 2023, One Earth Solar Farm, a venture led by Danish energy giant Ørsted, known for its expertise in offshore wind turbines, unveiled plans for a monstrous industrial solar park spanning our local parishes and surrounding our villages. The project aims to install 1.4 million solar panels - many almost to the height of a double-Decker bus, multiple battery energy storage systems (BESS) with lithium-ion batteries packed into hundreds of shipping containers, and large and noisy substations and almost 200 van sized inverters to facilitate power transmission to High Marnham. This development would consume nearly 4,000 acres of UK productive farmland and countryside, for at least 60 years, and most likely forever.
With over 90% of villagers opposing these massive plans, the action group Say No to One Earth Solar Farm was swiftly established. along with saveourheritagevillages.co.uk to raise awareness, a determined campaign was launched to fight against the loss of so much of Nottinghamshire's beautiful countryside.
Plans for a vast solar farm have prompted residents from three villages to take action in a bid to prevent the ancient parishes from being ‘engulfed’.
One Earth Solar Farm, which is in the early stages of planning, is a proposed solar farm with associated battery storage, on land surrounding North Clifton, South Clifton, Fledborough and Ragnall. Visit from Newark MP Robert Jenrick
The MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham was among a number from the county who voiced their objections to large-scale local solar farm plans in a Parliamentary debate yesterday (Thursday). Dr Caroline Johnson was able to table a Parliamentary debate in Westminster Hall, supported by other backbench MPs, on the issue of large-scale solar farms.
An application for battery storage units at the UK's biggest solar farm has been refused. Cleve Hill Solar Park, at Graveney, in Kent, was given government approval in May 2020. The plans require a 150-megawatt battery facility over 25 acres to store energy generated by 880,000 solar panels.
But campaigners raised safety concerns about the lithium ferro phosphate (LFP) batteries to store the energy.
A government minister has said that far more applications have been made for solar farms than the country will ever need. Graham Stuart, the energy minister, made the remark after being asked about concerns over recent plans for solar farms, including in North Lincolnshire. "An awful lot of the projects, talking nationally, will never see the light of day," he added.
Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho is set to reveal plans to revamp electricity markets, potentially saving households up to £45 annually and unlocking £35 billion in savings over 20 years. By incentivising investment in renewables closer to areas of high demand, the reforms aim to maximise the utilization of clean energy sources.
Chris Stark accused of obfuscation after being asked for clarity over claims of a mistake made by the Climate Change Committee. The head of the Government’s climate watchdog told officials to “kill” a negative news story with “technical language”, The Telegraph can disclose.
Enough of the pretence. The current path threatens our economy, society and democracy, and we urgently need a change of direction .
Rishi Sunak has been urged to stick to a pledge to avoid building solar farms on agricultural land as a huge energy farm is considered for land in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. If approved, the project from Sunnica, an energy company, could create a Cabinet clash, with Lucy Frazer, the new Culture Secretary, vehemently opposing the development in her South East Cambridgeshire constituency.
In September 2023 the historic village communities of North and South Clifton, Fledborough, Ragnall and surrounding areas received the shocking news that there are plans in action to attempt to convert much of the surrounding agricultural land into a massive industrialised solar park.
At a scale not seen in this country before, and despite government recommendations that industrial solar farms are not to be built over productive farm land, thousands of acres of good (BMV3) farm land is in danger of being lost for many years to come and possibly forever.
Despite more efficient and community friendly ways being available to generate electrical power, and worries that UK food security will be harmed, there are concerns some developers could be using the UK Net Zero targets as an opportunity to excuse attempts to alter the entire nature of our beautiful and productive British countryside on a massive industrial scale.
Our communities have existed alongside and in harmony with farming and agriculture for over a thousand years. We have miles of irreplaceable countryside footpaths - many with outstanding views – hundreds of species of wildlife including protected birds such as barn owls, little owls, vulnerable bat species and wild deer, and we think all this should be protected.
Working together we need to protect this way of life as best we can for future generations to enjoy.
Many attempts to build solar farms over agricultural land have already been thrown out during the planning stages. In the coming weeks, we plan to build on this website to inform and help us to voice all our concerns together as communities with a shared purpose, to save and preserve our great British heritage landscape and wild life.
Please register your email now to be kept up to date.
Andrew Neil FRSA Scottish journalist and broadcaster
