Call for protection from solar farms and pylons

South Holland District Council wants the Lincolnshire Fens to be given protected status

The government is to be lobbied to make the Lincolnshire Fens the first area of the country to be protected from green energy schemes in order to produce food.

The region is currently the subject of eight applications for solar farms plus an electricity substation and pylons.

On Wednesday, South Holland District Council voted unanimously to apply pressure to have the Fens' "critical" food-producing role recognised and given designated protection, similar to areas of conservation.

A government spokesperson said solar power does not risk the UK's food security.

National Grid is also proposing to build a new line of pylons from Grimsby through the Fens to Walpole in Norfolk to carry green energy from Scotland to the south east of the UK.

Councillors voted unanimously to lobby the government to recognise the Fens' role in growing and producing food which, they said, would be "devastated" by the schemes.

Councillor Nick Worth says the Fens should be prioritised for food production

Council leader Nick Worth said the area "probably has the best agricultural land in the country".

He said the motion was a "first step" in efforts to try to have the area officially designated for protection from green energy projects, although no such protection currently exists on the basis of agricultural production alone.

There are schemes to protect areas such as wetlands, areas of special scientific interest and those of outstanding natural beauty.

"It would have to be the first designation for agriculture," said Worth.

"That would be the ideal, in the long-term."

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said solar power was at the heart of the government's "mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower".

“Our plans to boost solar power do not risk the UK’s food security," a spokesperson said.

“Even in the most ambitious scenarios solar would still occupy less than 1% of the UK’s agricultural land, while bringing huge benefits for the British public and our energy security.”

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