The Advertiser, in its weekly magazine VOXPOP, has found that people’s opinions on solar farms and the number of applications for village sites around the town have increased.
Planning applications to build solar farms in villages around Newark are on the rise, including large-scale plans for the new Great North Road Solar Park.
The people the Advertiser spoke to had a wide range of opinions, but the majority defended solar farms and sustainable and renewable energy.
Last November, Newark MP Robert Jenrick raised concerns about the number of proposed solar farms in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.
Jenny and Mike Dowker said: I agree with the principles of energy conservation and the energy crisis, but where you put it is important, and you can’t put it in the city, so put it in the countryside. ”
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“They have to go somewhere, but whether I agree with it or not, if I lived in the village I would probably say no, but they have to go somewhere,” Don Hage said. “I don’t know the real answer because I have to.”
“I don’t know much about it, but if it helps the environment it’s good and if it’s beneficial it’s beneficial,” Craig Goodband said.
“They’re taking away farmland that could be used to grow produce, so when you go buy things, it’s probably going to be a little cheaper,” Curtis Phillip said.
“At the end of the day, no matter what we come up with, it seems we’ll never be able to lower prices.”
Many residents in the village where the application has been submitted have formed community groups to unite and oppose the solar farm in their leafy village becoming an “industrial site”.
“It’s supposed to be a good thing, but it’s not so good for the countryside, right?” Some people just can’t get used to change,” says Belinda Haas-Taylor.
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Paul Cotter said: “I think solar power is going to happen somewhere. I’m not against solar power, but if it’s not right next to us, then who is going to have it?”
“As long as they’re doing it with flooding and everything else in mind, I’m not against them,” Kelly Sedwick said.
Jane Ford said: “It’s a little complicated because I come from a farming family. I think I would like to farm the land to produce fruit, and I appreciate that it’s necessary, but I think it’s wise and I don’t want to do too much. We want to make sure we don’t throw things into one area.
“I think there’s a lot being suggested around here. Maybe I should know and read more.”
Guy Bennett said: It’s beneficial and will help you save money. I don’t think the village will become industrialized, but mainly it will save money. ”
The advertiser asks readers what they think about a proposal to build solar farms in villages around Newark.