Plans for new solar farms have caused consternation amongst councillors who fear Lincolnshire’s role as the breadbasket of the UK could be under threat.
The issue has attracted the attention of MPs, with Sir Edward Leigh visiting one Gainsborough property which could find itself almost surrounded by the panels. “Our public right of ways are going to have fences in either side of them to protect the panels, and you’re not going to feel like you’re walking through any decent countryside anymore and that’s a loss for a generation,” he said.The issues even reached Westminster with a debate calling for more regulation and to allow local people to have their say on larger plans.
Rutland MP Alicia Kearns accused developers of using Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project processes to “bypass the will of the community”.