Residents oppose proposal for solar panels at land extending north and south of the A46 in North Kesteven, commonly known as Fosse Way

Residents are opposing a new solar energy and storage park.

The solar and energy storage park is being proposed by Fosse Green Energy Ltd, a joint venture by Windel Energy and Recurrent Energy.

Land extending north and south of the A46 in North Kesteven, commonly known as Fosse Way, is being explored for the development around 9km south-east of Lincoln and 11km north-east of Newark.

The energy farm would also weave between rural villages including Norton Disney, Bassingham, Aubourn, Thorpe-on-the-Hill and Witham St Hughs.

Residents have presented their opposition to the location of the project rather than the installation of renewable energy.

“We have no issues with the solar farm but with the area, the land could be used for agriculture and energy is important but so is supplying food,” said Mitch Elliot, a member of the resident's action group.

He added: “Our main concern is the land and if it is arable and the magnitude of the development.

“If successful, all the villages would effectively become a huge industrial site with 3.5m high solar panels, storage batteries, inverters, pylons and cabling.”

The action group involves over 20 people from the seven villages, farmers and members of parish councils.

Mitch said that 35,000 acres of agricultural land in Lincolnshire could be lost and one of the largest is the proposed Fosse Green development as they plan to use 2,400 acres of mainly agricultural land.

The anticipated capacity is to provide enough clean energy and electricity to power around 110,000 homes.

The Fosse Way site project will be made up of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and battery energy storage areas.

The solar park will be connected by underground cable to the grid via a substation, which National Grid is still in the process of exploring location for..

Residents are concerned about the development’s impact on wildlife, nature and agricultural land.

Fosse Green Energy has been running live and virtual consultation events to get public views on the proposal.

There will be two stages of consultation to gather feedback from stakeholders, with the first stage running until October 20.

The first consultation event took place at Witham St Hugh’s Village Hall last Saturday.

The next events will be at Oliver Roper Parish Meeting Room, Thorpe-on-the-Hill (Wednesday, October 4) The Venue @ Navenby (Thursday, October 5) and Hammond Sports Centre Main Hall, Bassingham (Saturday, October 7).

“We are hopeful that they hear what we have to say and take it seriously but once the secretary of State makes the decision, nothing that we say will matter.

“We need affordable food the same way we need affordable energy.”