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21
May
Action group objects to Harrogate village solar farm
An action group has been set up to protest against a planned solar farm in Weeton.
Stop Weeton Solar Farm was recently set up by residents who disagree with the plans to establish a 35-hectare photovoltaic farm in the area.
The farm, which is adjacent to both Weeton Lane and Woodgate Lane and is proposed by Spanish renewable energy firm Abei Energy, would produce 17.5 megawatts of renewable electric energy, enough to supply about 6,100 homes.
But for the 126 people currently signed up to the Stop Weeton Solar Farm group, the negatives outweigh the positives.
The Stray Ferret recently spoke with Fiona Gibson, who set up the action group. She told us her concerns:
Weeton is a small village, and a solar farm would almost double the size.
I’m not against net zero but I think there’s a place for solar farms – this isn’t it. Not in a small village or on the green belt. There’s a risk of turning a small village industrial.
I think there’s also a danger to the wildlife. These kinds of solar panels can disrupt natural habitats. We have crested newts, badgers, curlews, red kites, and all kinds of protected species here.
Ms Gibson also expressed concerns regarding the visual impact on the landscape in the area.
The small village lies within the Wharfe Valley and is very close to the Yorkshire Dales, which is a protected national park.
Ms Gibson believes that such a big solar farm would have a long-lasting negative effect on the surrounding views of the countryside.
Meanwhile, David Chalmers, chair of Weeton Parish Council, said there was mixed view on the scheme in the village. He said:
The council has no view on the proposal as we currently have no fair details about it.
There are mixed views across the parish though. I think the biggest concern for people will be the impact on the landscape. The developers suggested deer fencing and there’s been some suggestions of high security fencing which would obviously have a big visual impact.
But, Mr Chalmers added that the land isn’t currently intensively farmed and has not been used for growing crops this year. He said that with only one business in the village, Weeton isn’t at risk of overindustrialisation.
Another resident, Victoria, a local landscape architect from Bewby, had her say.
Having worked with similar projects previously, she said that they can often improve biodiversity. Agricultural land is often heavily sprayed with fertiliser and slurry, which deters wildlife and wildflowers.
In the absence of this, many similar solar farms have an increased richness of wildflower in the area.
She continued that scaremongering can have a big impact on people’s views on these projects. In many cases she has seen, these developments are generally well hidden by vegetation and acoustic fencing – which prevents noise pollution. They would then only be visible to people who have high views over the land.
The Stray Ferret has contacted Abei Energy, the developers of the proposed solar farm, for comment.
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