I’ve received this letter from Minister Shanks, who is the Energy Secretary Ed Miliband’s junior minister, following my discussion with him about the scale of the solar farm proposals in my constituency.
During our conversation, I highlighted to him that the combined size of approved and pending NSIP solar farm applications and the reservoir proposal in the North Kesteven District exceed the entire size of his constituency. I also spoke to him about the challenges faced by tenant farmers where the land they farm will be taken up by these proposals, and the cumulative impact on people living and working in productive rural areas.
I’m pleased that he's been listening and he says that they will ensure that new infrastructure is spread efficiently across the country through the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan. I will keep pressing Ministers to deliver on these promises and recognise the cumulative impact of massive solar farms, which is a real problem here in Lincolnshire.
