‘Its scale and mass beggars belief!’ Councillors say 3,000-acre solar farm planned near Gainsborough would industrialise the countryside

Plans for a 3,000-acre solar farm would be ‘folly’ which would industrialise the countryside, councillors have said.

The proposed Tillbridge Solar project in West Lindsey would - if passed - be larger than any currently built in the UK.

It would be concentrated around the village of Glentworth, south of the A631 between Gainsborough and Caenby Corner.

This would put it between three other large solar farms that are either already approved or are seeking the green light.

The project is a joint venture between renewable energy developers Tribus Clean Energy and Recurrent Energy.

If approved, it would be able to power around 300,000 homes.

The plans are so vast that they will be determined by the Government, rather than a local council.

However, Lincolnshire County Councillors registered extremely strong objections at a planning committee meeting on Monday (November 4).

Coun Tom Ashton (Con) described it as ‘the thin end of the wedge of climate madness’.

“Its scale and mass beggars belief. It will mean the industrialisation of the rural way of life.

“Imagine every field alongside every road covered in an industrial process – we wouldn’t allow it for anything else.”

Coun Marianne Overton (Ind) told the committee: “A quarter of Lincolnshire people are connected with agriculture, and it’s sickening the best farmland is being used.

“Solar farms are acceptable if it’s a field here or there, but it’s folly on this scale.”

Coun Ian Carrington (Con) said the applications were centred around ‘a very sensitive piece of geography’ in the heart of Lincolnshire’s countryside.

“We all need green energy – no one is denying that – but there must be fairer geographic distribution,” he added.

Coun Neil Murray (Lab) was the lone voice of opposition, saying: “There is a climate crisis, and the council has said no to every solar farm that’s come along.

“We can’t always say no. Lincolnshire needs energy. Sometimes land should be used for renewable energy so we don’t have to rely on Vladamir Putin.”

The council’s report says that the impact on the landscape and loss of farmland would be unacceptable.

It also raised concerns about the disposal of solar panels which are no longer usable, which are expected to be 40,000 per year for this application and potentially half a million if all solar farms in the area are approved.

The report and objection will now be sent to the Planning Inspectorate, who will prepare a report for Secretary of State for Energy, Ed Milliband.

A government decision of the West Burton solar farm, which would be located nearby, is also expected later this week.