This is the blog for the NOSPAM Action Group who are campaigning against the inappropriate development of a 93 acre solar farm by HIVE Energy, at Bank Farm in the Parishes of Aldington and Mersham.
If you wish to join the NOSPAM Action Group please email 2014nospam@gmail.com and we will add you to the email list. Obviously the more members we have the stronger our voice. In your email it would be helpful if you could indicate whether you are a resident of either Aldington or Mersham Parishes.
Solar power can, of course, provide an important contribution to the generation of clean energy, but the full environmental implications of locating solar farms in rural areas have to be considered. The Minister of State for Climate Change, Greg Barker has pledged to “crack down on” solar farms sited in inappropriate parts of the countryside, such as Bank Farm. He also wrote “I am keen for the focus of growth to be firmly on domestic and commercial roof space and previously used land”.
The Government currently pays large subsidies for the generation of solar energy, which of course we all pay for through our energy bills. This has distorted the market, such that the development of solar farms has become the domain of speculators, such as HIVE Energy, and farmers keen to cash in on the subsidies and take the easy life.
The Government currently pays large subsidies for the generation of solar energy, which of course we all pay for through our energy bills. This has distorted the market, such that the development of solar farms has become the domain of speculators, such as HIVE Energy, and farmers keen to cash in on the subsidies and take the easy life.
HIVE Energy are proposing to develop a 93 acre solar farm on undulating agricultural land at Bank Farm to the NW of Aldington, straddling the boundaries of Aldington and Mersham Parishes. The scheme is bounded to the north by Bank Road, to the west by Laws Lane and would be a very significant blot on the landscape overlooked by many houses and visible over a large area.
Aerial view from Aldington Village towards the proposed Solar Farm (highlighted in red)
The proposed plan will involve the erection of 2.4m high solar photovoltaic panels (solar panels) over the 93 acre site. It would involve the construction of an inverter and transformer station plus sub stations and high tension cable connections to the grid. The development would be protected by security fencing and CCTV.
There is a solar farm under construction at Old Romney which will give you a sense for the scale of solar panels and overall environmental impact.
There is a solar farm under construction at Old Romney which will give you a sense for the scale of solar panels and overall environmental impact.
Photos from Solar Farm at Old Romney
Planning applications have proliferated throughout the country and in our own area several applications have recently been submitted to Ashford Borough Council
Visit the planning website and search for the applications by number to learn more
http://planning.ashford.gov.uk/Default.aspx
Pluckley Case No. 00789
Hothfield Case No. 01022
Woodchurch Case No. 00020
Kennardington Case No.01074
Note: select case year as 2013
Due in no small part to the efforts of local residents these applications have been rejected, primarily due to the inappropriate impact they would have on the rural landscape.
Public Exhibitions will be held in Aldington Village Hall on 4th March 12 noon-4pm and 7pm-9pm and it is vital that we all attend to make it clear what we really think about this proposed development.
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