save HERTSMERE - object to planning REF 22/0948/FULEI
Stop the 2nd Solar Plant Application
Planning Application for Acres of Green Belt Land in Radlett, Elstree & Aldenham (Land North Of Butterfly Lane, Land Surrounding Hilfield Farm And Land West Of Hilfield Lane Aldenham Hertfordshire)
ACT NOW and OBJECT to this 2nd planning application on the same land which was refused planning and currently in the appeal process.
This application is a disingenous tactic by the developer.
Reasons to Object
Green Belt – Building a solar farm on GB is not a valid Very Special Circumstances reason.
Green Belt Loss – This will be the single largest GB loss in decades. It will set a precedent. Alternative available sites were not looked at.
Size/Scale – The scale of this 321 acres site equals 30 Wembley Stadium complexes.
Visual Impact – 321 acres of 3M high solar panels will destroy the openness and scenic views. Current footpaths will be altered & screened with 2.2m high fencing & 3m high CCTV. Views blighted by 36x40ft Shipping Containers in site. 20 with Lithium Ion battery storage units. Elevations of the completed site are missing from.
Amenity Space – Vital open space for health & wellbeing will be lost. Notably in COVID
Soil Quality – Crops are farmed in rotation on this agricultural farmland DEFRA graded
Heritage Site Impact – Viewing HS’s will be blighted by the solar plant.
Listed Buildings – Aldenham, Habs, Slades Farmhouse and Hilfield Castle, have restrictions
Protected Species – Numerous birds, great crested newts, badgers, bat roost, muntjac will loose their habitat. In turn this will have a negative affect on the local biodiversity.
Flood Plain – Defra has said this site is on a flood plain.
Glint & Glare – Aircraft, local traffic and dwellings will be affected as stated in their report.
Noise Pollution – Battery storage, 20 transformers in fields & 80 aircon units will have a negative effect, especially for children at 4 local schools, with hearing and concentration.
Local Plan & NHP – A solar plant on Green Belt is not in either plan. In the NHP it states, “protection and positive use of the surrounding Green Belt”.
Battery Storage Units – Huge environmental and financial costs from incidents of fires have been recorded.
Green Projects – Should take into account how things are sourced; manufactured; transported; installed; managed; dismantled and recycled. Items from countries with no emission legislation or workers rights is not green. Lack of detail does not mean its green!
Solar Plants – Are actually very inefficient in generating renewable energy as they reach an optimum period and then become less efficient.
N.B. – Since November 2020 the Secretary of State has rejected numerous similar applications.
OUR GREEN BELT IS UNDER ATTACK, AT SERIOUS RISK AND NEEDS YOUR HELP
Enso Energy, in the guise of a newly formed company called Elstree Green Ltd, have submitted plans to operate an industrial-size solar plant over 310 acres of Metropolitan Green Belt land. It will destroy vast amounts of the stunning open countryside covering areas within Elstree, Radlett, Aldenham, Letchmore Heath, Hilfield and Patchetts Green. The effects of things like glare from the panels will be felt as far away as Bushey.
The land is Green Belt, but it is productive land for crops such as kale, rapeseed, wheatgrass, beans and cabbage. We need to stand together to protect this precious rural countryside and its wide open spaces and network of footpaths which are enjoyed by so many individuals and families. Not only is the lungs of London, it is the beating heart of Hertsmere – a place for exercise, a place for tranquility, a place to exist with nature. It for is all of us – young and old, rich or poor. Never has this been more important for mental and physical health than during this pandemic. It is essential, right now, and it is essential for future generations.
We absolutely support good, green initiatives, but ripping up the Green Belt and replacing it with glass and metal and cables and plastic is not green. In fact, solar plays no role in UK green strategy going forward all the way to 2050.
Dear Hertsmere Green Belt supporter,
Thank you for being part of the 18,000 objections against Hertsmere’s draft Local Plan which proposed building over 2,500 acres (almost 15%) of our entire Green Belt.
Your support and objections forced our Councillors to listen and shelve the plan. However, by not providing an acceptable draft Local Plan the first time around, this has put our Green Belt at risk. Without a five-year housing supply, our Green Belt is now open to developer destruction.
Our Local Councillors are there to represent us, so they should be rejecting ALL Green Belt proposals until we as residents can be properly consulted on a new and better Local Plan.
Numerous applications on the Green Belt have been submitted since the Plan was shelved and since approved. The map below highlights the danger facing us all.
We must continue to work together to object to these applications and ensure our elected Councillors listen to us the residents of Hertsmere.
Over the summer, and with an updated website, Save Hertsmere will re-connect with all local ‘Save’ Groups who promise to protect our Green Belt. We therefore need your continued support.
If you are a local action group working to protect the Green Belt in your area of Hertsmere, or wish to join our campaign, please contact us at: savehertsmeregreenbelt@gmail.com to join up and work with us, as together we are stronger.
Object now and register your views
Alternative ways to object and have your say.
Hertsmere Planning Department consult.planning@hertsmere.gov.uk
And… why not email your local councillors!
You can copy the text from our email.
Oliver Dowden MP
oliver.dowden.mp@parliament.uk
Cllr Morris Bright – Leader of Hertsmere Council
morris.bright@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Cllr Harvey Cohen – Portfolio holder for Planning at Hertsmere Council
cllr.Harvey.Cohen@hertsmere.gov.uk
Cllr John Graham – Aldenham East
cllr.john.graham@hertsmere.gov.uk
Cllr Lucy Selby – Aldenham East
cllr.lucy.selby@hertsmere.gov.uk
Cllr Caroline Clapper – Aldenham West
cllr.caroline.clapper@hertsmere.gov.uk
Cllr David Lambert – Aldenham West
Planning Department
Hertsmere Borough Council
3 Elstree Way
Borehamwood
WD6 9SR