Residents attended Ossian wind farm project open day in Moulton Seas End to express concerns and find out more information about two new substations at Weston Marsh near Spalding and Alford near Skegness
Residents have shared their concerns with developers about the impact a wind farm project will have on their community.
Ossian is developing a floating offshore wind farm off Scotland’s east coast to generate renewable energy which could be delivered to the National Grid at two new substations in Weston Marsh, near Spalding, and Alford near Skegness.
An information session held in Moulton Seas End Village Hall by Ossian allowed residents to find out more about the project and how it will affect them.
Paul Darnbrough, Ossian’s consents team manager said: “Local community engagement and hearing views and opinions early, is very important to the team.
“Our aim is to foster open and honest communication with the communities in which we will be developing and operating.
“These information days will be the first of many opportunities to feed into our project plans.”
Concerns raised by residents at the meeting included how the project would affect the area and its impact on the environment with potential noise and pollution.
Ian and Jenny Pennington , who live in Weston Marsh, feel ‘frustrated, disillusioned and disappointed’ and ‘worried that they are going to ruin the area.’
Mrs Pennington said: “Weston Marsh will end up like an industrial site rather than a farming community - would you want that outside your window?
“A lot of these projects don’t get off the ground and we have to put up with all the hassle.
“It will impact on residents’ lives and we have all got concerns - unless it is on people’s doorsteps they aren’t interested.”
The couple is concerned about a number of projects destined for Lincolnshire including National Grid’s pylon plan and battery energy storage systems at Bicker Bar.
They are part of the campaigning group No Pylons Lincolnshire and the substations plan is another added to their list of concerns.
Mr Pennington said: “We are concerned about the loss of grade one agricultural land and about food security.
“We have been nicely out of the way until now and have been waiting for it so it isn’t a surprise.
“We are worried about access roads and that they are going to ruin the area.”
Ossian has confirmed that there there are still a number of consultation stages to go through before they submit a Development Consent Order (DCO) application for the project’s transmission infrastructure in 2026.
Steve and Ann Ingham live in Holbeach Bank and came along to the open day to find out more about the plans.
Mr Ingham said: “So far it seems alright.
“If it does what it says it is going to do it will be beneficial.
“I don’t think it will affect us and there should be minimum impact.”
The couple are environmentally minded and have solar panels on their property.
Mrs Ingham said: “It has put our minds at rest.
“If you don’t come along and say something you can’t come along after.”
Ossian would be amongst the largest floating offshore wind farms globally and when operational could power up to six million homes a year.
John and Carole Heron retired to the area because they liked the county and have concerns about the Fens and wetlands sinking.
They voiced their concerns at the information session.
Mr Heron, a retired teacher, said: “It is not Ossian that I have the ache with it’s National Grid.
“They are not taking any idea of what the people feel.
“Sixteen and a half years ago we came here because we like it the way it is - why should we bear the brunt?’
He added that it is great that Ossian are talking to residents and are realistic about the project ahead and that many of his fears were allayed at the meeting.
Mrs Heron was concerned about the already changing views they enjoy as they walked to the meeting.
She said: “We came over fields and we saw 15 National Grid vans.
“Why are they all over our fields?”
Parish councillor Kevin Prince attended with his wife Donna, who live in Whaplode St Catherine, voiced concerns about the number of projects underway in the area.
He said: “Our concerns are the amount of projects heaped on us for so called green energy.
“We are all for green energy but there is a way to do it.
“Blighting the countryside with pylons, solar panels and earthworks is not the correct way and they are not looking at alternatives.”
Members of the development team reassured residents that public consultation and environmental surveys will be ongoing and have addressed the concerns raised.
Community liaison manager Alexandria Hanson said: “The project is in its early stages, and we are conducting an extensive site selection process, undertaking surveys to consider quality of agricultural land and engaging with landowners to minimise impacts.
“The project is committed to undergrounding all its onshore cabling and will restore the above land to its former state wherever practicable.
“These surveys will help us understand the local environment and identify potential sensitivities which can then be considered as part of our site selection process that will determine the offshore and onshore cable routes, as well as the location of the project converter stations.
“Ossian is keen to engage and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, including the local community. As part of this intention, Ossian Energise has been set up.
“This is a programme dedicated to fostering growth in skills, employability, education, research, and innovation through strong partnerships with local communities, industry and academia.
“It is anticipated that Ossian’s construction works would commence towards the end of the decade. As we are still at an early stage, this will become clearer as the project progresses.
“We’re aware that there are other energy infrastructure proposals being brought forward in the area and recognise the importance of collaborating with developers to reduce impacts on local communities.
“We are actively engaging with the relevant developers and will continue to do so throughout the development process.”
The proposed project is being developed by SSE Renewables, Japanese conglomerate Marubeni Corporation and Danish fund management company Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners.
The project team can be contacted at contact@ossianwindfarm.com and info@ossiantransmission.com or be calling 0800 138 5407
To have your say about the Ossian wind farm get in touch via the consultation site at ossiantransmission.com
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