Alicia Kearns MP and Essendine Parish Council Chair Trevor Burfield today brought together County and Parish Councillors and local residents from the Mallard Pass Action Group, to visit the site of, and discuss, the proposed Mallard Pass Solar Plant development.
This proposed site would be by far the largest in the UK at 2,175 acres: eight times the size of the current largest solar farm, Shotwick Solar Park, which is 250 acres.
There are serious concerns, raised by Alicia Kearns MP, the campaign group and local residents, about the suitability of this development. These include the potential for increased risk of flooding, increased traffic and road hazards, agriculture, the destruction of biodiversity, and its sheer size.
As Stage 2 of the consultation approaches this Spring, Alicia Kearns MP will continue to work with local Councillors, the Mallard Pass Action Group and on behalf of residents, to ensure that local views are heard, and the solar plant faces proper scrutiny, at local and national level.
Alicia Kearns, MP for Rutland and Melton, said:
“This was a great meeting, an opportunity for us to come together, United and galvanised in our determination to protect our community. The Mallard Pass solar plant proposal is utterly inappropriate and I am entirely opposed to it. Rutlanders want to play our part in creating a more sustainable energy future, but this proposal would damage Rutland forever.
“By building on quality agricultural land, we will destroy a natural resource in the heart of England’s green and pleasant land.
"Residents deserve to have their say and making sure that they are heard, locally and nationally, is my priority.”
Cllr Trevor Burfield, Chairman, Essendine Parish Council said:
"Essendine Parish Council have canvassed the residents and businesses of the Parish to obtain their thoughts and opinions, this has led Essendine Parish Council to pass a resolution which is. “Essendine Parish Council strongly opposes the proposed Mallard Pass Solar Farm development.”
Mallard Pass Action Group said:
“The scale of the Mallard Pass Solar Farm is unprecedented - 8 times the size of any current similar development and far less efficient. It will gobble up 2,175 acres of agricultural land in Rutland and Lincolnshire - the equivalent of 1,400 football pitches.
“The sheer industrial scale of the solar farm will be totally out of keeping with the rural environment, blighting the landscape for over 40 years.
“As a country we need to ensure our energy policy dovetails with the nation’s approach to food and agriculture, rather than undermine it, as is the case with Mallard Pass.”
