Gainsborough MP raises concerns about solar farm plans near the town

Sir Edward Leigh believes local people should have more of a say on whether they get the go ahead

Solar farm
Author: Andy MarshPublished 24th Feb 2022

Gainsborough's MP says he's concerned about plans to build the UK's largest solar farm near the town.

The proposals would see it built on agricultural land near Gainsborough generating enough power for 92,000 homes.

But Sir Edward Leigh says locals should have more of say.

He told us: "it'll be equivalent in size to about 5,000 football pitches and because it's a so called national infrastructure project they'll be no local planning control on it."

"It'll just go straight to a Government inspector and that's what I'm complaining about".

"I think if you've got such a vast project as this that it should go through normal planning procedures".

"This will be a series of sites in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire basically ruining the town of Gainsborough so it's a huge amount of agricultural land being taken, which is another point against it".

"It's all paid for by public subsidy and local landowners are going to get a considerable amount of money, maybe up to a thousand pounds per acre per year."

"This is being done deliberately to bypass local people".

"My opinion is not really relevant - I personally think I'm not opposed to a solar farm or farms".

"I think we should have them on a smaller scale".

"This should go to the local authority and they should have a say".