Farmer Robert Langford of Hawkmoor Farm explains why he is supporting the Stop Sadborow Solar campaign and why he turned down a solar renewables company.
"I am supporting the Stop Sadborow Solar campaign because the proposed solar farm at Gashay is an environmental disaster waiting to happen. Solar panels can be manufactured by the million but you can’t manufacture thousands of years of the natural environment and the wildlife on it. The environmental damage far exceeds the benefit. We will lose 43 acres of unspoilt valley, simply for profit.
"I was approached by another solar energy company and went right through the process to see how it would work. These companies think in money terms but it didn't make sense to me as a farmer who loves the land. There is a forfeit in locking up the land for 30 years. I would lose the freedom to walk the land and use it for farming. We made a conscious decision to protect and enhance our land and keep it in its natural state.
"We have an ancient 100-acre hay meadow nearby the proposed solar farm site, which is designated an area of special scientific interest. The proposed farm would not only threaten wildlife on that site but also neighbouring land, including ours.
"Solar farms are likely to have an unseen impact. We don't know how they will affect small mammals, birds, bats and also bumble bees, which are well-known to be in a critical state of decline. Anything that produces electricity generates an electro magnetic field, which may affect bees. Bats are also threatened by these developments. If you take away bird habitats and create an alien environment, the birds cannot adapt to such a rapid change.
"They show you photographs of sheep grazing under the panels but the grass would not offer good quality nutrition because it would be at least partially shaded by the panels.
"The panels also mess up the natural water flows. The rainfall will not soak in evenly over the land. Some areas get absolutely flooded and in others there is very little moisture.
"The construction company says they will retain all the mature hedges and trees, as well as planting more to screen the installation. Firstly, it would be impossible to screen it effectively because it is on a sloping site. Secondly, the trees and hedges create shade that blocks the sun. When the sun drops low on the horizon, the shadows would extend across much of the site.
"I also looked into the impact of the production and installation of the solar technology. The panels are made in China (or India) so their carbon footprint doesn't get recorded over here. The figures look good on paper but they are not a true representation.
"Apparently, British Solar Renewables says the panels are self-cleaning but my understanding is that, because of grime and air pollution, solar panels have to be cleaned with toxic chemicals or they lose 25 per cent of their capacity. The run off would go into the Blackwater river at the bottom of the proposed site. A lot of money has been spent on cleaning the Blackwater, as well as the Axe and Yarty rivers, because it was in breach of EU water quality regulations."
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