Derbyshire Residents Concerned Solar Farms Threaten Food Supply

Villagers in Derbyshire worry about more solar farms. They think Britain could have too much power and not enough food. Anesco wants to build a solar farm near Bretby. It would sit on 70 acres.

Council officers suggest approving the plans. The council will decide on February 18th. It would go near a holiday site, a garden center, and the Burton Golf Club.

The farm would make 21 megawatts yearly. It could power almost 7,800 homes. They want it finished by April 2029, and it would run for 40 years and then be removed.

Over 50 people sent letters against the project. Local councils also object to the plan, and the Peak and Northern Footpaths Society opposes it too.

One objector farms the land and says the soil grows great crops. Wheat, barley, and potatoes grow well there, and sheep and cows graze on the grass.

He says the plan harms food production, and importing food would rise without the farm. Another person worries about losing farmland for crops, fearing having no food to eat.

People also worry about the landscape, saying the area would change drastically. It would become an industrial site, with fences, signs, and cameras appearing.

Some suggest using old industrial land, noting that Willington Power Station is nearby and unused. Roofs of buildings and car parks could work as a good alternative option.

Concerns exist about construction traffic and a road might close for 38 weeks. A local headteacher says children might be late, which could impact families with two schools.

Council planners suggest approving the plan because they think its benefits outweigh the harm. Renewable energy helps reduce emissions, which carries significant weight.

Losing farmland is a moderate concern. The loss is temporary and can be reversed, as they can restore the land later.

The plan won’t harm wildlife and may help biodiversity. It could provide a positive net gain.