Two Solar Farms Refused Planning Permission by West Lindsey District Council

West Lindsey District Council's Planning Committee has rejected two applications for solar farms between Burton and Riseholme following representations of planning grounds for refusal by local residents.

Protestors from Riseholme, Burton and South Carlton outside
the Guildhall, Marshall's Yard, Gainsborough

The two farms, allocated to agricultural land between the villages of Burton and Riseholme, were previously deferred so that the applicants could satisfy concerns over whether the sequential test had been met - meaning the the applicant had chosen the site for the best possible reasons.

The first application by AEE proposed a 42 ha site comprised of two separate elements off the B1398 around Burton by Lincoln village and the A15; whilst a second application by RGE Energy was for the construction of a farm on land off Middle Street, Burton-by-Lincoln.

Numerous residents from Burton and South Carlton (in the Saxilby ward) together with residents from Riseholme (in the Nettleham ward) attended the planning meeting on Wednesday, 12th November 2014 at the Guildhall, Marshall's Yard, Gainsborough. Prior to the commencement of the meeting the group protested with placards, demanding the refusal of the schemes.

Both planning applications were refused by the council.

Cllr. Giles McNeill, who represents the Nettleham Ward, and who seconded refusal of the first application and proposed refusal of the second said:

“Both applications have been refused due to incongruency with the saved Local Plan policies STRAT 12 (Development in the open countryside) and STRAT 13 (undeveloped breaks between settlements and green wedges around Lincoln). We also considered the National Planning Policy Guidance issued in March, earlier this year related to ground-mounted solar photovoltaic farms. 

“Whilst I am all in favour of reducing our dependency on fossil fuels, building a low carbon economy, to protect our global environment - I must have regard to planning policies, and in my view these proposals did not accord with the substantive weight the committee felt should be placed on maintaining the green wedge, and the distinctive breaks between settlements.”

Before the meeting, the group argued that while they were not against the idea of solar power, it was the positioning of the two farms that they disagreed with. Mr. Bill Maris, who farms at South Carlton, said:

“I farm the land near to where the solar scheme is proposed. I’ve just had my soil analysed and some of my land is grade one and it’s certainly all grade two.

“A lot of the land that is proposed for this site will also definitely be grade two and some of it will be grade one.

“I don’t object to solar, I object to it going on good, agricultural land. It should be used for farming and there are many alternatives to energy but there is only one place you can produce food, and that’s on land.

“I suppose to the farmer that is renting the land it’s easy money if you’re offered a thousand pounds an acre for 25 years.”

Local resident Mrs. Sue North said:

 “We are not opposed to solar energy, what we are opposed to is where the farms are proposed for. These farms are on what’s called the green wedge, which was given that status by West Lindsey District Council to separate the countryside from the town.

“The two farms, which we have to look at together because they are side by side, would create a tunnel for the old coach road that people walk through.”

Mrs. Alison Richards added:

“For a lot of people the historic coach road, which is mentioned in the Domesday book, is a recreational route for a lot of people in the area; walkers, cyclists, horse riders and a lot of families use it.

“For many it’s the only route for people to the north of Lincoln without trespassing on a field.”

Mrs. Desiree Applewhite said:

“It might only be a temporary twenty-five years slot but it would ruin an amenity for a generation. There are plenty of other brownfield sites which can be used, such as disused airfields.”

Saxilby Man's Licence Appeal Refused

A court in Lincoln has upheld a decision taken by West Lindsey District Council to refuse a man a private hire/hackney carriage driver's licence.

Mr. Peter Kemp of Mill Lane Saxilby has been ordered to pay £270 in court costs after losing an appeal against the council's decision. Mr. Kemp was refused an application for the renewal of his licence in March 2011 by the council's Taxi and General and Licensing Committee.

The committee had to consider whether the applicant was a 'fit and proper person' to hold a licence. In determining the application they resolved he was not a fit and proper person because of his driving record of speeding offences and disqualification. He was told he would have to wait six months before reapplying.

Mr. Kemp appeared before Lincoln Magistrates Court after lodging an appeal against the council's decision.

Chairman of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee, Cllr. Jessie Milne, Conservative (Lea Ward), said:

"This is a fantastic result for West Lindsey District Council and shows we are not afraid to make tough decisions.

"Taking everything into account we must remember the overall aim of the licensing regime is to protect members of the public.

"This decision gives me great comfort, reassurance and confidence that the Committee's decision was the correct one, which has now been confirmed by the courts."

Shore: "I don't agree with Nick."

Cllr. Reg Shore, Liberal Democrat (Stow Ward), has surprised many with comments made to the Lincolnshire Echo, in an article published today, about the local election contest for West Lindsey District Council due on Thursday, 5th May 2011. Cllr. Shore is quoted as saying:

"I don't agree with Nick. I never have and that's based on the issue of student fees."

 'West Lindsey Focus' delivered
prior to the 2010 General Election

The shock disclosure that Cllr. Shore does not and has not ever supported Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat Leader is somewhat at odds with the facts. Cllr. Shore having appeared in election literature last year with Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for the Gainsborough Constituency, Cllr. Pat O'Conner, and the Deputy Prime Minister.

Cllr. Shore is also reported to have provided the following withering critique of his leader:

"Nick Clegg will not sort flooding or has vision for West Lindsey".

However, one of Cllr. Shore's district and county colleagues described him as 'Canute' - a man who sat in the waters as they rose during his time of leadership of West Lindsey District Council in 2007.

Budget 2011: WLDC Consultations

West Lindsey District Council would like to offer all residents and local businesses the opportunity to have your say on how you think the Council should spend its budget for 2011/12.

 

As you will no doubt be aware, times are challenging for local government. With reduced budgets from central government it is critical that we direct our resources in a way that benefits our residents and meets their needs and priorities.

 

The Council will shortly be setting the Council Tax for 2011/12 and, as part of this process, we want to weigh up which services or areas should be prioritised in terms of spending. We would therefore like to invite you to take part in an event which will be used to feed in your views on how you think Council Tax should be spent over the next year.

 

As always, it is important that we hear from all members of the community, so we hope that you can spare about 2 hours of your time to attend one of these events. You do not need any specific knowledge of the Council to take part.

 

The event will take place in a friendly group atmosphere on the following dates and locations:

• Monday 29th November 2010 at Scotter Village Hall at 3:00pm .
• Tuesday 30th November 2010 at Saxilby Village Hall at 6:30pm.
• Tuesday 7th December 2010 at Caistor Town Hall at 3:00pm.
• Tuesday 7th December 2010 at Caistor Town Hall at 6:30pm.
• Thursday 9th December 2010 at Guildhall, Marshall’s Yard, Gainsborough at 3:00pm.
• Thursday 9th December 2010 at Guildhall, Marshall’s Yard, Gainsborough at 6:30pm.
• Tuesday 14th December 2010 at Old School Hall, Nettleham at 6:30pm.

Attached below is the poster advertising this event. If you have any questions or queries please contact Katy Allen on 01427 675149 or on katy.allen@west-lindsey.gov.uk.

 

Councillor Gets Dirty

Donning safety boots, hi-vis jacket and gloves Cllr. Mrs. Jackie Brockway, Conservative (Saxilby Ward), spent a day working side by side colleagues in the waste services team.

The West Lindsey District Councillor, who is chairman of the Community and Waste Services Committee, was surprised with her findings. She said:

"This job requires more skills than one might at first expect and I learned a great deal."



Cllr. Mrs. Jackie Brockway having
a go at wheelie bin collections.

Cllr. Mrs. Brockway used a day of her summer holiday to do a shift as a refuse collector on one of the council's refuse freighters. She said: 

"I was surprised by the speed and fluidity with which they do their jobs and I found myself having to run to keep up at first, before getting into a routine.

"They showed me how to inspect the rubbish and to get the bins onto the lifting machinery which then tipped it into the back of the wagon.

"This was far from easy and it took me a few attempts before I got the hang of things.

"My new colleagues were extremely patient with me, even when I failed to get one bin to catch on the lift and the contents fell out onto the road."

Cllr. Mrs. Brockway said she was impressed with how the driver manoeuvred the twenty-six tonne lorry smoothly through some incredibly narrow and difficult traffic situations.

Staff worked with accuracy, managing to remember where every bin came from and Cllr Brockway watched them handling residents' queries with care and diplomacy.

Cllr. Mrs. Brockway added:

"This is not a job for the unfit and there is no slow point in the day when the men can simply stop and take a rest (apart from a short lunch break).



"They're on the go the whole time and they have to be very aware of hygiene, road safety and the needs of residents.

"I was appalled by the way car drivers pushed past the refuse wagon, often at speed, with no care for the safety of the refuse collectors.

 "I'm really grateful to the team for giving me the benefit of their time and experience."

The day was arranged by Operational Service Manager, Mr. Glyn Pilkington and Team Leader Mr. Andy Selby to work with a team of three experienced operatives.

Mr Pilkington said:

"I am really pleased that Cllr Brockway wanted to have a go.

"Refuse and recycling is one service that directly impacts on all residents and therefore it is important that councillors fully understand the difficulties of the service and the need to make it as simple as possible for residents to recycle".

West Lindsey Nets £181,000 To End Flood Misery

Two bids for flood alleviation funding totalling £181,000 compiled by West Lindsey District Council have been backed by the government.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has announced that £96,000 has been awarded towards a project at Fiskerton and a further £85,000 for work at Sykes Lane in Saxilby.

A further £53,000 has been awarded to a Lincolnshire County Council project to provide highways improvements and a water course diversion scheme in Waddingham which will also ease flooding.

A delighted Leader of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr. Adam Duguid, Conservative (Market Rasen Ward) said recognition from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was a just reward for councillors and officers who have worked tirelessly to bring flooding relief to local people.

"The terrible events of June 2007 focussed everyone's attention on the need to do as much as possible to prevent property flooding on that scale ever happening again. By implementing these grant funded schemes, approximately 90 households that were previously vulnerable to flooding will be protected.

"We have done remarkably well to secure a slice of only £5 million available nationally - West Lindsey was the only district council in Lincolnshire to be successful - and we are fully committed to doing everything we can to get more funding for other schemes in our area that urgently need implementing."

The terms of the funding mean that schemes have got to be complete by March 2011, and in Fiskerton work is due to be completed as soon as August 2010.

The Fiskerton project is the result of West Lindsey District Council, the Third Witham Drainage Board, developer Morris Homes and the local parish council all working together on a scheme which will intercept water from the north of the village and then divert it under the village - rather than through it - to the drains to the south and then out to the North Delph.

The scheme is designed to resist a six hour storm with an additional thirty percent capacity built in to allow for climate change.

In Saxilby there are known flood risk problems on Sykes Lane and the funding award will be used to tackle flood risk from surface and ground water after heavy rain and to re-route water away from the village towards established and maintained watercourses to the north.

Making the funding announcements, Environment Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said:

"Local authorities have a crucial role to play in tackling flooding and it's vital that they have these funds now so that work can begin on resolving local flooding immediately. At the same time they will have the chance to develop the understanding and skills they need for the longer term. We wanted to make sure these funds went to where they are most needed and where they can make the biggest difference."

Saxilby Ward By-Election Video Blog

Conservatives take Saxilby Ward!

The Conservatives have gained one of two district council seats in the Saxilby Ward from the Liberal Democrats.

The Result

Jackie Brockway, Conservative 722
Steve Pearson, UKIP 62
Dean Woolley, Liberal Democrat 407

Turnout 28.3%