Campaigners gathered in Lincoln, protesting large solar farms possibly replacing Lincolnshire farmland and impacting food production.
Andrea Jenkyns organized the rally. She is a Reform UK mayoral candidate. Other candidates came: Rob Waltham and Marianne Overton. Jason Stockwood was absent, explaining he was in Grimsby.
The 7,000 Acre group and Cliff Villages Action Solar Group attended. Richard Tice, an MP, joined them too. Jamie Allen leads the 7,000 Acre group, stating the area is becoming industrialized.
He stated possible solar farms started at 7,000 acres but now exceed 10,000 and are growing. He thinks it impacts all of Lincolnshire. Allen is not against solar power but wants it on brownfields and rooftops.
Simon Skelton also belongs to the group. He thinks renewable energy costs lots of money. He thinks nuclear power can fix the electricity grid, and opposes solar farms on farmland, fearing destruction.
The group wasn’t surprised Labour missed the rally as the government approved solar projects. Heckington Fen Solar Park and West Burton Solar Project were already approved. Allen wanted Stockwood to explain his absence.
Jenkyns said Ed Miliband was damaging the countryside and thinks the projects endanger food security. Waltham thinks solar panels fit on buildings, stating putting them on farmland felt wrong.
He said farmland projects require substations, which create industrial structures in the countryside. Overton said the solar projects covered more land than Lincoln and called it “an invasion.”
A counter-protest occurred too, as Stand Up To Racism opposed Reform UK’s views. They held signs against fascism and believe immigrants aren’t the cause of the housing crisis.
Mason Crusoe spoke for the counter-protesters. He thinks Reform UK uses anti-establishment anger but favors bankers and the wealthy. His group supports immigrants and refugees.
Alexander Kirk, who works at Global Witness, supports solar power. He said solar energy is affordable, clean, and creates jobs. He notes Lincolnshire floods often, making climate action vital.