Villagers on Cambridgeshire-Suffolk border remain 'in fear' for Sunnica solar farm
A consultation on changes to the scheme closes tonight
Villagers on the Cambridgeshire-Suffolk border are still on tenterhooks over plans to build one of Europe's biggest solar farms there.
A consultation on whether more land should be used to allow Sunnica to connect to the Burwell Substation as part of the scheme closes tonight (Friday).
"We already live in fear because of these huge battery storage systems that are being imposed right next to our homes and water supplies," Catherine Judkins, from Say No To Sunnica, said.
"It's that whole feeling of this hanging over us for many years to come."
Sunnica has said the scheme would span 2,500 acres across three different sites and power 172,000 homes in a bid to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Scheme still 'poor quality'
The developer hopes its non-material change application will ensure the project "can connect into Burwell Substation as planned, following the extension of this substation (now built) by approximately two hectares (4.9 acres) of additional land."
In a statement, Sunnica said it will know more of when building on the solar farm can begin once a decision has been made by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
"The fact that now, 18 months post-decision and they're still looking to make changes to the scheme, shows the scheme remains very poor quality," Catherine added.
The original proposals included the building of solar photovoltaic panels across several fields and each site would be connected to each other by underground cables that link to Burwell substation.
Councillor Richard Radcliffe is chair of Isleham Parish Council, one of the villages to be affected and has his own concerns around the scheme.
"We live in a historic village which is a thriving community, and we're now going to have an industrial landscape put round us, and that will be a fundamental change to our village landscape," he said.
"People are fearful of the unknown; we all thought it was a bonkers scheme and still do, (and) it has too great an impact on our community."
Cllr Richard Rout, cabinet member at Suffolk County Council, has previously described the Sunnica solar farm scheme as "a Trojan horse.
"A devious way of introducing even more infrastructure into our county which is lucrative only for the developer and landowners while our communities and landscape pay a heavy price."
A DESNZ spokesperson said a range of post-consent work is needed for large-scale projects like Sunnica before construction can start.
“We have approved enough clean energy projects to power the equivalent of more than 7.5 million homes, helping get us off fossil fuels and deliver energy security so we can bring bills down for good,” the spokesperson added.