A neighbour who cut down trees to enjoy a better view of Wootton’s countryside could now be overlooking a solar farm for the next 40 years.
Plans to create the Sunny Oaks Renewable Energy Park, on land owned by Briddlesford Lodge Farm off Whiterails Road, have been met with mixed reactions.
If approved, the solar farm and battery energy storage could power 5,150 homes a year and retain the excess created, for the next 40 years.
Support has been given to the project from Islanders saying it would boost renewable energy production and would be built on poor-quality farmland which would most likely be targeted instead for housing.
While the Environment Agency had first objected to the plans, a flood risk assessment had been submitted by the applicant, dispelling its concerns.
However, 1 neighbour said they moved to Wootton for the peace and quiet and cut down conifer trees at the front of their property to enjoy the view over the fields — now proposed to be filled with solar panels. Instead, the energy farm would spoil their views of the local wildlife.
Other issues raised by neighbours include the proposed CCTV cameras, no consideration of glint and glares from the panels into their 1st floor rooms and highway concerns with construction traffic pulling out onto busy roads.
Wootton Bridge Parish Council said it supported renewable energy but had concerns and was surprised the Isle of Wight Council had not requested an environmental impact assessment even though it could be the biggest solar farm on the Island.
Campaign group, Wootton Against Solar Panels, submitted a 143-page objection and raised points including the site being prone to waterlogging, which could lead to significant flooding. It contends the development would not protect or enhance the valued landscape or heritage assets.
They said the area would be industrialised with another solar farm and cause degradation of the views in the area.
A letter from the applicant, Ridge Clean Energy, has also now been submitted to the Isle of Wight Council, which atempts to address the concerns. It says the development is robust in its design and comprehensive in the benefits it would deliver.
Comments on the application have now closed but the Isle of Wight Council is yet to determine the application.
So, who exactly are ‘Wootton Against Solar Panels’? Are they the same people as ‘Wootton Against Gravel Extraction’?
I’m going to take a wild guess and say they probably are the same group of people.
A group of people who think ‘a view’ is better than renewable energy. I’m going to take another wild guess and say they’d claim to be 100 per cent in favour of renewable energy – so long as it was done someplace else. A bit like opposing gravel extraction locally when the vast majority have gravel driveways etc.
the technology will not power the said amount of homes..its a con
“the technology will not power the said amount of homes..its a con”
You need to get up to speed on what is happening in renewables. It is the cheapest method energy generation. And, unlike fossel fuel or nuclear, if it is ever decommissioned, there is no toxic waste left behind. Safe to build something else on or to be used as farm land again.
I got to meet David Green and work on a small project for him. A very nice person that had a dream of an self sufficient island making all it’s own energy. If he had not been driving into an early grave by the lies of the IOW council we would now be using extremely cheap energy and be an example to the world of how to build a cleaner energy system.
renuables are offset by power stations..the technology is not enough to run green ..ever, may I suggest you do some actual reseaxch, as you obviously have not…you dont even understand bikes yet fred real or fake, good luck in your greenhorn economy…if the world went green it would need other planets to have energy farms on, solar captures 10% only and in the northern hemisphere the suns angle does not generate much during winter months ,nightime or when its cloudy. tidal energy is the only one that actually works. conveniently not being pursued, (more solar business interests in china) ..its not about helping humanity its about fleecing humanity through big corporations and government interests..come on Freddy boy catch up,,,
Sadly you don’t buy the view! And as this Winter is proving we need more renewable energy sources.
No one owns their view. What an idiot.
NIMBYs out in force with pitchforks and burning brands.
We need all the renewable energy we can get .
Rather look at something productive than a load of rabbit hutches ….
Say yes !!!!
They didn’t think of the wildlife when they cut down the trees
Very good point , and tree’s also absorb carbon .
Maybe they should replant tree’s then they won’t have to look at the solar panels !!!!!!
Simple ….
It’s better than looking at a housing estate.
Sadly it won’t be ‘instead of’ it will be ‘as well as’ for some other beautiful area of the Island, but until the gullible SEE that a never ending amount of breeding newcomers to the UK IS the problem, then ever more green fields will be lost of them, or displaced indigenous to build homes upon, and MORE energy, water, food, land fill, doctors, dentist and hospital waits, will increase due NOT to OUR own people having too many children but the worlds breeding masses arriving.
SEE the real problems in the UK as to why we can’t jail people, why homes are dear to buy or rent, why long waits for health treatment, why roads are overcrowded, why crime is rife.
THINK
Did cutting down the trees, help the local wildlife? Perhaps a couple of wind turbines would be better.
Whilst neither for or against this scheme I am puzzled. It seems that the Island does very well when it comes to solar generation. So well in fact that we don’t have the capacity to export it to the mainland resulting in having to “turn off” some sites. So until we have the infrastructure to export it why are ever more being built?
Also why are the large companies seemingly allowed to build as large as this when we householders are restricted by the DNO’s? Try getting permission to have a decent sized installation on your own property, for your own use – not for profit, and witness the problems thrown at you…
OfGEM/government/DNO rules are indeed perverse: umpteen large commercial roofs screaming out for solar power and would greatly relieve the pressure on the network, yet not permitted except at ridiculous extra cost.
Green government? Ho Ho Ho.
I would have thought that a commercial roof with solar for ‘self supply’ would not be a problem with no permissions required ( maybe planning consent). Surely that doesn’t need DNO for just self supply ?
Distribution is a problem everywhere. I do not like the idea of installations being paid not to produce.
It will keep the air con going in 5,150 homes during the summer but produce very little this time of the tear.
Actually we have solar panels and as I type I am running the washing machine, have hoovered ,and have the electric fire on …..
Cost per hr 0-00 …..
Absolute rubbish you should make sure of your facts are accurate before spouting rubbish.Since we have had solar power and batteries to store the energy
produced, we have been able to power our electric heaters lights etc
up to 21.00 hrs When it is not sunny but reasonably bright we have reduced the electric costs by up to 50%. Over the last two weeks my electric has averaged out
to £2.00 a day.
Totally agree getting G99 is a real pain.So where does all that energy from the solar farms go if it can’t be exported to the mainland. Is it all consumed locally meaning consumtion from the mainland is reduced ?Maybe these farms should have a Tesla style megawatt battery facility..
FFS what is it with this island……don’t want cheap gas from arreton so drive them out and now don’t want a solar panel farm……okay to have sky high bills then ? NIMBY
“However, 1 neighbour said they moved to Wootton for the peace and quiet and cut down conifer trees at the front of their property to enjoy the view over the fields — now proposed to be filled with solar panels. Instead, the energy farm would spoil their views of the local wildlife.”
Fairly typical of the attitude we have come to expect from the self-entitled “I’m all right, Jack” older generation.
For the record Norways green economy is offset by them selling more oil!! yep look it up haters an green fools, they openly admit it, the green aganda would fail without oil sales, germany is turning back on its nuclear plants as they were fooled too and france provides our nuclear energy, green is a scam..Watch ‘Planet of the humans’ youtube..it may open up your eyes.