Residents submit complaint over South Stainley solar farm decision

Residents in South Stainley have submitted a formal complaint to Harrogate Borough Council over a decision to approve a solar farm in the village.

The proposal, submitted by Elgin Energy EsCo Limited, was approved in August and would see a farm of the equivalent size of 150 football pitches built.

The developer said in its documents that the farm could generate 50 megawatts of electricity during peak operation and potentially power 15,000 homes in Harrogate.

However, residents in the parish have complained to the council over how the application was handled at planning committee.

Following a meeting of the South Stainley with Clayton parish, Jane Pickering, who chaired the meeting, wrote to the borough council.

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She raised concern that the committee never took a site visit, held the meeting at short notice and that the views of residents were “ignored and not taken into account”.

In the letter, Ms Pickering said:

“Solar green energy schemes require a balanced planning view. Due to the sheer scale of the proposals and the landscape and visual impacts involved, time should have been given to hear both sides of the argument, and to carefully analyse the negative environmental impacts.

“The parish is not convinced that a balanced and accurate view was presented to the committee and that a decision was made with a lack of understanding of the issues and the local impact of such a huge scheme.”

South Stainley had previously submitted objections to the council over loss of green fields and agricultural land.

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said:

“The planning application (19/02259/EIAMAJ) was determined in accordance with national and local planning policy and procedure.”

Second solar farm planned

The complaint from residents comes as a second solar farm is planned for South Stainley.

Infraland Ltd and Boultbee Brooks Renewable Energy Ltd have unveiled plans for a farm on 19 hectares of land between South Stainley and Wormald Green.

The proposals would see photovoltaic panels laid out in rows running east to west on the site. The plan has yet to be submitted to Harrogate Borough Council.

Second solar farm plan unveiled in South Stainley

Developers are consulting on proposals for another solar farm in South Stainley 

Infraland Ltd and Boultbee Brooks Renewable Energy Ltd have unveiled plans for a farm on 19 hectares of land between South Stainley and Wormald Green.

The proposals would see photovoltaic panels laid out in rows running east to west on the site. The plan has yet to be submitted to Harrogate Borough Council.

According to the plans, the site would generate 10 megawatts of power which would be able to power up to 3,000 homes.

The developer said in its proposal:

“The solar panels will be fixed on a pile-driven metal mounting frame securely fixed to the ground with posts. The height of the panels will be at a maximum of 3.087 meters from ground level.

“The panels will be installed at around 25 degrees from the horizontal, around 5.0m apart and would be fixed in that orientation.”

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LanPro, planning agent for the developers, is holding a consultation on the proposal online until October 24. Residents can give their views on the plan here.

Meanwhile, South Stainley with Clayton parish is set to host a meeting on November 1 to discuss how to respond to the solar farm.

It follows Harrogate Borough Council approving a similar development in the village in August.

Elgin Energy were given permission to build a 200-acre solar farm, despite concerns from villagers about the loss of green fields and agricultural land.

Harrogate district to get solar farm powering 15,000 homes

Harrogate councillors have today backed plans to build a large solar farm between Harrogate and Ripon.

The proposal, submitted by Elgin Energy EsCo Limited, would see Cayton Solar Farm built near the village of South Stainley.

The company says the site could generate 50 megawatts of electricity during peak operation and potentially power 15,000 homes in Harrogate with green energy. It will operate for 30 years.

A report before today’s planning committee said the farm, which will take up the equivalent size of 150 football pitches, would bring “significant renewable energy benefits” to the district and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

A total of 58 people wrote to the council to object to the application but 85 people wrote supporting it.

Councillors on Harrogate Borough Council voted unanimously to defer the plan to officers for approval at a planning committee meeting today.

Global warming

Cllr Pat Marsh, member of the planning committee, said:

“I can see the concerns of those who live close by, if it gets its permission. But, if you go down the A30 into Cornwall, there are solar panels all the way down virtually. It’s there and it exists.

“If you go into the centre of Spain, coming down the mountains into the very middle of Spain there are huge solar farms. I do not hear anybody shouting and screaming and the reason is because we have seen the impact of global warming.

“For once this district is becoming proactive.”

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Andrew Mott, agent for the developer, told the committee:

“Considerable care has been taken in the design of the development to ensure that the environmental considerations are protected and biodiversity promoted.

“There are economic benefits in terms of employment opportunities during the construction and operation phases of the proposal. There is approximately £120,000 per year in business rates.”

Sterile landscape fears

Residents that oppose the application are upset about the loss of green fields and agricultural land.

In its submission the council, South Stainley Parish Council objected to the perceived negative impact on the environment. It said:

“The area would become sterilised from an agricultural, environmental and recreational point of view.

“While maintenance staff in white transit vans will prosper, what happens to the farm workers and rural lifestyles which depend on local agriculture?”

Parish council fears 200-acre Harrogate district solar farm will ‘sterilise’ landscape

A parish council has criticised proposals for a 200-acre solar farm near South Stainley, saying it will cause “long-term harm” to the agriculture industry and “sterilise” the rural landscape.

Elgin Energy EsCo Limited is behind plans to create Cayton Solar Farm near the village, which is between Harrogate and Ripon. The company says the site could generate 50 megawatts of electricity during peak operation and potentially power 15,000 homes in Harrogate with green energy.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee will decide whether to approve the solar farm on Tuesday. A council report recommends it defers the application to the council’s executive officer for development management for approval subject to a biodiversity management plan.

The report says the farm, which would take up the equivalent size of 150 football pitches, would bring “significant renewable energy benefits” to the district and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Local opposition to the solar farm has been building since plans were submitted in 2019, with many residents upset over the loss of green fields and agricultural land.

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The council’s report categorises the agricultural land it would be built on as class 3b quality, which the government defines as “moderate quality” but still able to produce high yields of grass for grazing throughout the year.

Elgin Energy has said it will retain the agricultural use of the land in the form of sheep grazing.

There have been 85 comments in favour of the solar farm and 58 against it.

South Stainley Parish Council objected to the perceived negative impact on the environment. Its submission to the council says:

“The area would become sterilised from an agricultural, environmental and recreational point of view.

“While maintenance staff in white transit vans will prosper, what happens to the farm workers and rural lifestyles which depend on local agriculture?”.

Local environmental charity Zero Carbon Harrogate submitted its comments in support of the application.

“We believe that this application supports the objectives of the Harrogate Climate Coalition ‘to champion carbon reduction throughout the Harrogate district, helping the district achieve net-zero emissions’.”

The Red Lion at South Stainley to reopen with new name and owners

The Red Lion pub on the A61 in South Stainley is to reopen on Wednesday under new owners and with a new name.

Partners Graham Usher and Matt Rose have bought the pub, which has been renamed The Inn South Stainley, reflecting its village location between Harrogate and Ripon.

For years, the pub was popular with families because of its Wacky Warehouse soft play area.

The previous owners of The Inn South Stainley, which closed in March last year, invested £1.5m on converting the original standalone building into eight bedrooms, refurbishing the interior and creating another four guest rooms on its first floor.

The venue will offer accommodation and serve gastro pub meals, drinks and snacks. It is planned to open the restaurant and function suite in July.

There are also plans for two teepees with fire pits in different parts of the inn’s extensive grounds, to host private functions, including private wedding parties.

On 36 bus route

The Inn South Stainley will be managed by Mr Usher and Mr Rose’s hospitality consultancy, Mattgray Hospitality.

Launched in January 2019, the business already operates Selby pubs The Castle Inn and the Drovers Arms.

To replicate their formula at South Stainley, the two men have brought with them the Drovers’ long-standing head chef, Shane White, and recruited Chris Lawton as general manager.

Mr Usher said the pub was “exactly what we were looking for”, adding:

“It had recently been refurbished to a very high standard and included guest rooms. And with the number 36 Ripon, Harrogate, Leeds bus stopping right outside, it’s ideal for staff and customers who want to leave the car at home.”

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Mr Rose said:

“Many people still call it by its previous name, The Red Lion, and talk about it being the place to go to eat and drink. Our intention is to make this well-known pub a must visit destination again for those who love great food, great drinks and a great atmosphere.”

More information about The Inn South Stainley is available here.

 

 

A big thank ewe to the NHS from South Stainley farmers

Steve and Clare Walmsley may well be leading the field when it comes to an unusual way of thanking the NHS.

The couple live with their teenage children Heidi and Freddie at Brooklands Farm close to the A61 Ripon to Harrogate Road near South Stainley and have a corner of a field on a raised plain has proved a prime location for catch the eye messages, such as Support British Farming and follow the Tour De Yorkshire.

Now they have taken matters to a whole new attention-grabbing level by placing a sign that reads ‘Thank You NHS’ and putting rainbows on the side of resident ewes Muffin and Milkshake, who munch the lush grass as lorries, cars, motorcyclists and cyclists pass by on the nearby road.

Steve told The Stray Ferret:

“We decided to do this because people are having a tough time at the moment and need something to smile about.”

The rainbows on Muffin, who is a Mule and Texel Cross Milkshake, were put on using an animal marker and are so far on one side of the ewes, but Steve and Clare are planning use the marker colours on the other side of each animal, so the rainbow can be seen whichever way the ewes are turning.

Clare, who has family that work in the NHS, added:

“We are so grateful for what the front line workers are going for us all, that we wanted to find a special way of saying thank you to them.”

Their decision to put the sign in the field with their rainbow sheep is clearly working, as drivers of vehicles passing by could be heard papping their horns as they went past.