An investment company has lodged a planning application with Winchester City Council to build a 54 acre solar PV development on unspoiled agricultural land just beyond Alresford, alongside the beautiful and hugely popular Three Castles Path, and visible from the ancient Ox Drove.
54 ACRES 21,400 SOLAR PANELS for 40 YEARS
This would destroy the historic and rural nature of this special area forever, and hugely impact many protected bird and animal species. It will also surely set a very dangerous precedent for the industrialisation of other beautiful sites.
We believe that renewable energy is INCREDIBLY important but that developments must be appropriately sited on ALREADY industrialised land 0r roof tops – NOT in amongst the rural Greenfield areas which are so special to this part of Hampshire and which are enjoyed by so many.
USE BROWNFIELDS NOT GREENFIELDS! LETS PUT MUCH NEEDED RENEWABLES IN THE RIGHT PLACES!
Listen to the solar panels at Bradley, Hampshire:
PLEASE OBJECT NOW!
THE ONLINE SUBMISSION DATE HAS PASSED BUT IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO OBJECT!
Please email Winchester City Council case officer Mr Rob Green, quoting the planning reference 20/02832/FUL and including your postal address at rgreen@winchester.gov.uk
5 minutes of your time to stop the industrialisation of our precious Countryside.
It is important to state WHY you object and if appropriate, what your personal relationship with this landscape is. The more specific and the more authentic your objection, the more weight it will carry.
PLEASE PROTECT THE RECREATION AND AMENITY VALUE OF UNSPOILT COUNTRYSIDE: This site is tranquil Hampshire countryside with far reaching views, and is used daily by dog-walkers, ramblers, cyclists and horse-riders along the ancient Three Castles Path. The Campaign to Protect Rural England’s (CPRE’s) define tranquility as ‘the quality of calm experienced in places with mainly natural features and activities, free from disturbance from manmade ones. Mental health and well-being is so important and it is surely indisputable that 21,400 solar panels, with their fencing, security cameras, and ancillary buildings emitting a high pitched shrill, will destroy this special area enjoyed by so many.
LETS PRESERVE OUR LOCAL HERITAGE: The 14th century Godsfield Chapel, built by the Knights of St John, stands only 300 meters from the proposed site. The Three Castles Path, the ancient link between Winchester, Odiham and Windsor, and travelled by King John at the time of the Magna Carta, skirts the entire northern length of the site for approx 700m.
NO MORE PRESSURE ON THE LOCAL ROADS: The roads all around the site are narrow and dangerous, with many documented accidents. The development will require approx 480 HGV trips to and from the site through Alresford, plus a further 2,600 more ancillary vehicles! The point of access to the site is on a nearly blind, highly dangerous corner (Bugmore Hill).
WE SHOULD BE MINDFUL OF BIODIVERSITY: This construction would affect the habitats of the many birds and animals that live on or next to the site, some endangered like the dormouse.
GOVERNMENT POLICY IS TO PROTECT GREENFIELDS: The Rt Hon Christopher Pincher, in the very recent Government Energy white paper “Powering our net zero Future” (published 14th December 2020), promotes the use of solar panels on rooftops.
TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO OUR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT: The proposed development has the potential to damage the nearby waterways and reservoirs, and lead to more flooding over fields and local roads.
THERE ARE MANY NEARBY: In this part of Hampshire there are already solar power plants at Bradley, Ellisfield, Alresford/Bishops Sutton, Bentley, Bishop’s Waltham, Forest Farm, Hambledon, Hursley, Ropley East & West and Shedfield, and a further planning application lodged at Three Maid’s Hill.
IF THIS SITE IS APPROVED IT WILL SET A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT – If we do nothing it could happen ANYWHERE….
LETS PUT MUCH NEEDED RENEWABLES IN THE RIGHT PLACES!