‘Absolute sacrilege!’ Spalding, Kirton and Benington farmers fear windfarm could cause ‘massive catastrophic disturbance’ to ‘the most productive land in the country’

Farmers have warned of the ‘massive catastrophic disturbance’ a proposed windfarm could do to their businesses.

Landowners fear the planned Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind project could cause irreversible damage to ‘the most productive land in the country’.

“I think it’s an absolute sacrilege to be using Grade-I land for these purposes,” Jenny Pennington, of Spalding Marsh’s H. Pennington & Sons, told an open floor hearing on Thursday (October 10).

The Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind project wants to build a 1.5 GW wind farm, located 33 miles (54km) off the Lincolnshire coast.

Plans show the project landing at Anderby Creek, between Chapel St Leonard’s and Sutton on Sea, with underground cable laid through parts of East Lindsey, Boston Borough and South Holland before connecting at a proposed substation at Surfleet Marsh.

“We appreciate the need for renewable energy but we’re concerned about the effect of cabling running through the land, also access roads and structure that may be needed,” Mrs Pennington added.

“We’re worried about the disturbance of land and the long-term impact of the land, some being taken out of production altogether - ie 35 acres of land at Surfleet for the substation.

“We’re worried about the size of that, the screening, and possible dust effects.

“We don’t think you should be using Grade I-agricultural land for these projects.”

On Thursday the Planning Inspectorate opened their preliminary hearing into the application at Wyberton’s Jakemans Community Stadium, where a five-strong panel heard Lincolnshire farmers and their representatives put forward their concerns regarding the project.

“Our soils are all Grade-I silt. The Grade-I silt in South Lincolnshire is unique in being , without doubt, the most productive land in the country,” said Neil Wilson of Woodlands Farm in Kirton, which farms 3,000 acres organically, producing potatoes, beetroot, brassica and combinable crops.

“All of the crops produced on that land are premium quality, destined for premium supermarkets. The majority of our potatoes go to Waitrose, Marks & Spencer and others.

“Beetroot’s exported into Europe, we’re also exporting potatoes into Ireland. Our customers expect nothing but the best and to get the best our land needs to be absolute top quality, structurally sound.”

Mr Wilson fears the underground cabling will cause irreversible damage to the soil.

“The massive, catastrophic disturbance that these cables effectively have on the land mean the structure is ruined, the fertility is ruined. It’s likely the land will never, ever produce the quality our customers expect ever again,” he continued.

“These cables affect drainage and we don’t know what impact the heat generation of the cables will have on our crops. I can only assume it’ll be negative.

“As we are organic, we will have to have strict protocols in place to ensure that contamination does not occur on our land from conventionally farmed soil.”

Mr Wilson added those protocols would be ‘very difficult to adhere to, citing six environmental assessments doen on the farm, four of which saw inspectors ‘kicked off’ the farm for not following guidelines, and a fifth which was carried out against the farm’s knowledge.

“What hope have we got of contractors following protocols whilst carrying out the work?” he asked. “It just won’t happen.”

Earlier in the day Mark Westmoreland Smith KC, acting for Benington-based TH Clements & Sons, which farms around 750 acres of land in the county, said his client had four principal areas of concern, listed as alternative routes, the extent of land take, the impact on agriculture and potential socio-economic impacts.

“That includes the impact on the best and most versatile land from the installation of the onshore cable route,” he said.

“The impact on ongoing ability to farm and crop contamination. We will be submitting expert evidence on air quality and, in particular, dust dispersal.

“Dust can have an adverse impact on agricultural crops, particularly brassica. As you can imagine, it is not going to be accepted by a supermarket customer when its covered in dirt.”

Mr Westmoreland Smith said it was ‘clear’ the issue of alternative routes will be covered by the Planning Inspectorate at an upcoming specific hearing and that land takes can be dealt with via the the process of compulsory acquisition hearings.

But he did highlight the socio-economic factors faced by TH Clements and argued he would like to see an issue-specific hearing to cover agricultural impact.

“This scheme has a potential to have an existential impact that it won’t be compensated for,” he continued.

“Because of the more informal arrangements whereby agricultural businesses operate they are not necessarily protected by the compensation code.” he continued.

“You need to be aware of the adverse economic impact of a business that’s got an £80 million turnover.”

Mr Wilson also highlighted the potential to divert the cabling route.

“Because Grade I silt is confined to a relatively small area, I can see no reason why these cables should not be diverted around this area on Grade II and Grade III land,” he said.

“Most of those farming Grade II and III land do not produce the quality of crops we produce. Potatoes, for example, are not for prepack at supermarkets, they’re destined for making crisps, where the skin finish that we produce isn’t required.

“It doesn’t have an impact on them.

“I would say most of those Grade II and III farmers would welcome Outer Dowsing with open arms because the payments they would receive would probably be greater than they would receive from farming. That does not apply to us.

“I have suggested the compensation levels we will require and they cannot believe the sums we’re suggesting. We know we have a massive battle in the coming 10-15 years for compensation.

“I think I speak on behalf of most farmers farming these Grade I lands. We do not want them.”

In response, Scott McCallum, a partner at Shepherd and Wedderburn solicitors, who is representing Outer Dowsing Wind Farm said: “The applicant will take an opportunity to respond to all the points in writing.

“We’ve taken a detailed note of the points raised.”

The public have previously had the chance to have their say on the project at a number of sessions staged throughout the county, including one at Fosdyke where an interested party arrived on horseback.

What do you think? Let us know your thoughts by emailing duncan.browne@iliffemedia.co.uk.