Who are we?
The Claydons Solar Action Group (CSAG) is a community organisation made up of residents from the local villages impacted by the proposed Rosefield Solar Farm and a growing number of other green energy developments across the Claydons. The Rosefield project would cover 1,667 acres of productive agricultural land on the Claydon Estate, the ancestral home of the Verney family for more than 400 years. This land is currently farmed by three tenant farmers (one of whom has already chosen to leave). If the proposal proceeds, it will undoubttely impact the remaining farmers, along with wider local employment opportunities. Farming is essential to our nation’s long-term food security and remains a cornerstone of life in rural Buckinghamshire, shaping both our economy and our countryside heritage.
Villages affected: Botolph Claydon, East Claydon, Middle Claydon, Calvert, Quainton, Granborough and Hogshaw plus Steeple Claydon, Edgcott and the small market town of Winslow in Buckinghamshire.
Our key concerns
Sheer Size
Visual Impact
Solar inefficiency
LOSS OF HABITAT
LOSS OF AMENITY
NOISE IMPACT
CONTAMINATION
TOXIC FIRES
LOSS OF TENANT FARMER'S LIVELIHOODS & over 100 local jobs under threat
Loss of Food Producing Land
MORE CONSTRUCTION & DAMAGE ON TOP OF HS2 & EWR
Traffic Impact and poor country roads
acres (1,214 hectares) of all proposals on agricultural land
Loss of food producing land
There is a clear policy conflict within government which seeks to protect and enhance our domestic production to maintain food security and be more self-sustainable but is encouraging the growth of renewable energy on valuable farmland and areas of high amenity. We are concerned about this considerable loss of land and inadequate policies to protect it, particularly in the light of the Russia/Ukraine war and the impact it is having with global food shortages and food prices.
We believe that no large scale solar plant should be approved for development on greenfield land until the collective impact on the environment, biodiversity and food security is fully understood.
We could achieve national solar targets by having a roof top solar policy for houses/commercial buildings and utilisation of brownfield sites just like other countries do.
Loss of tenant farmers
"The Tenant Farmers Association of England and Wales (TFA) is pleased to be supporting Claydons Solar Action Group in opposing proposals for the 1,667 acre Rosefield Solar Farm. This and the other schemes, are wholly contrary to public policy and are not in the public interest. If approved, the projects will remove a considerable area of versatile agricultural land needed to ensure that we are meeting our food security and food self-sufficiency targets as a nation. Additionally, if accepted, it would involve the loss of a large area of land from the tenanted sector of agriculture, which would be contrary to the Government's policy of seeking to ensure that we at least maintain the tenanted sector at its current level to assist with new entrants, progressing and developing farmers. We will be joining with Claydons Solar Action Group to encourage the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to reject these proposals." TFA Chief Executive George Dunn.
One farm lost, one farm reduced by half that specialises in rare breeds, and one farm of national importance reduced and is a local tourist attraction. Over 100 local jobs could GO!
Solar inefficiency
UK ground-based solar power is inefficient. Research from the University of Sheffield has shown that solar panels in the UK are only 11% efficient, primarily due to the variable climate and limited annual sunshine. This inefficiency forces ground-based solar farms to sprawl across vast areas of land to generate comparable electricity to alternatives such as wind power and small modular reactors.
In 2020, the World Bank produced a report ranking 240 countries by their solar photovoltaic (PV) potential, with the UK coming in at 239th. Additionally, data from the Energy Dashboard website highlights that solar power fails to generate sufficient electricity when the sun isn’t shining, especially during the darker winter months.
Solar energy is presented as ‘clean’ energy but while the electricity generated by the panels is free from direct carbon emissions, the manufacture, transport and disposal of solar panels is far from clean. Fossil fuel energy is still used to make the panels, particularly the glass element, and the environmental impact of transport to Europe, mostly from China, is enormous.
Panels have a commercial life of no more than 20 years, so most will be replaced during the 40-year lease of the land. Used solar panels are generally discarded into landfill, there is no recycling programme and no incentive for companies to build this into their business models.
Visual impact
Imagine solar panels mounted up to 3.5m high spread across 1,667 acre site of open countryside adjacent to many local villages who will see them from quite a distance. There will also be 2.5m high security fencing, CCTV and security lighting to 3.5m around the solar panel fields. Added to that will be inverters and transformers dotted across the site in large unsightly containers emitting significant and constant noise. Given the unsightly nature of this industrial landscape Rosefield Solar Farm has had to take appropriate mitigation measures. Many of the so-called screening enhancements will take up to 15 years and beyond to provide a decent level of screening, but this misses the point as the character and beauty of much of this countryside is the long lightly undulating open vista that does NOT need enhancing or require 'improved' footpaths.
With the NEARBY development of the now defunct HS2 and East West Rail this solar scheme will damage the habitat even further which is vital for our local wildlife.
Loss of amenity
If you enjoy walking, cycling, running or riding through the countryside, and experiencing the health and well-being that it brings, then imagine the impact of being surrounded by solar panels, noisey inverters and BESS units and associated equipment, on public rights of way and quiet country roads. Public rights of way may be moved or closed during the construction phase, which could be two years or more.
many people travel to the area to get away from the hustle and bustle of life to enjoy the open space and countryside - something that was very important during COVID-19.
Loss of habitat
The Claydon Estate has maintained and managed the arable farmland and adjoining woodland very well for centuries. Local woodland adjoining the proposed Rosefield development are classified as 'ancient woodland', many of these areas are SSSI classified, with several rare and unreplaceable species of flora and fauna. The woodlands and farmed areas next to the site and beyond, including a nature reserve, have already been impacted by HS2 and EWR, and further encroachment on the Claydon site will indeed be very, very detrimental to existing wildlife. Should the development proceed, and when existing ancient hedgerows are ripped out, watercourses filled, and the agricultural land covered with solar panels as is proposed by the developers, then this shall be catastrophic for the existing wildlife, and it would be very unlikely to ever recover.
CSAG are asking locals to collaborate with us by doing a wildlife watch in the area. Click for more information: Wildlife in and around Rosefield Solar Farm
Both animals and plant life found around these ancient woodlands have a symbiotic relationship with each other and rely on both woodland and the open arable land adjoining the woodland to sustain their own particular species requirements.
Further road disruption & damage
For EACH proposal the construction phase could take up to 2.5 years with all HGVs, abnormal loads and workers’ construction traffic coming through some local villages. For Rosefield AIL's (Abnormal Indivisible loads) – measuring over 2.9m wide and 18.65m length will travel to the site North, via A421, A413, High Street (Winslow) Vicarage Road and East Claydon. This will create added noise, pollution, and damage to roads and associated verges, as well as extra risk for pedestrians, cyclists and horse-riders. It is also likely to disturb the bio-diversity down more rural side lanes.
Due to the nature of the locations, it will be inevitable that some roads will be too narrow. Many special traffic measures may need to be added which may include yet more road closures.
These proposals will further batter our beaten roads and verges in the construction process after having to tolerate HS2 and East West Rail construction for the past few years.
Noise impact, fires & contamination
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) come with risks. They can produce constant noise from cooling systems and inverters, which will disturb nearby communities and affect well-being, especially in our quiet rural area. Persistent noise can lead to stress, and reduced quality of life for those living nearby.
Fires are another concern, particularly due to thermal runaway, where batteries overheat uncontrollably, leading to fires that are difficult to extinguish and can last for days. These fires release toxic fumes, harming health and the environment. A lack of specialised training and equipment for fire services to handle battery fires further increases the danger. With so many batteries in one area the chances of a fire are highly likely at some point. Additionally, damaged batteries can leak harmful substances, polluting soil and waterways, which can harm ecosystems and water quality.
These challenges highlight the fact that BESS units should not be placed near people's homes, waterways or within flood zones such as ours.
Please turn the volume up and play the video above. This is a BESS site CSAG were invited to visit by Statera, in January 2024.