A group of Nottinghamshire neighbours fear their peaceful village could turn into an 'industrial heartland' if plans for a new solar farm are given the green light. Plans have been submitted to Rushcliffe Borough Council for a farm on a 233 acre stretch of land close to Hawksworth and Thoroton, near Bingham.
Officials say it would generate around 49.9MW of renewable electricity, which is enough to power approximately 15,200 homes every year. However, opponents in The Hawksworth and Thoroton Action Group fears the borough risks being dominated by solar power farms, following a large site being approved near Ratcliffe on Soar and others across the county.
The group is against the planning application for the solar farm off Longhedge Lane by Renewable Energy Systems (RES). It states the land proposed is prime agricultural land that produces enough wheat each year for 1.5million loaves of bread, and that the land will be lost forever if used as a solar farm. There are also concerns about the loss of local wildlife, the impact on the landscape, cyclists, equestrians and how the solar farm is so large it cannot be hidden.
