Objecting to the latest proposal

You may have received communication from Ashford Borough Council (ABC) concerning the revised application PA/2022/2415 for the industrial solar installation at North Court Fruit Farm in Old Wives Lees.

Whilst the applicant has made minor changes to the original application, we don't believe that they make the overall plan compliant with national and local planning policies.

If you sent an objection to the original application we would ask that you:

1. Upload or write your comments to ABC reiterating your initial objection,

2. Say in your own words that you object, including one or more of the points as appropriate to your viewpoint on the proposal:

   1. Best and Most Versatile Agricultural land should not be used for industrial purposes,

   2. Harm to the landscape and visual amenity and surrounding AONB plus North Downs Way,

   3. The project's lifetime - 40 years is nearly 2 generations!

   4. Disruption - the proposed grid connection will be along Lower Lees Road and down Long Hill to the New Cut (which is the route of the North Downs Way)

   5. Amount of transport movements during construction - danger to pedestrians and road users,

   6. Lack of community involvement.

3. Confirm that you agree with the objections submitted by SOWLIS (we are still working on them!).

Even if you do not live in the village but enjoy walking on the footpaths or cycling or horse riding along the current quiet country lanes, please do object! Every objection helps!!

We have commissioned a review of the Landscape and Visual Impact documents again and therefore please help us by donating via PayPal or by contacting us directly and paying through our Barclays Community account (which does not incur any fees!).

Lastly - if you haven't already signed our petition please do so and get as many people to sign as well to better support our cause!

New public consultation ending 3rd November!

Find below details of the public consultation as expected. The deadline for comments is 3rd November.

The key reasoning behind the additional public consultation is:

Further information relating to the Environmental Statement (ES) received. Major Development Proposal, Affects Public Right of Way.

Stand Alone Advert Notification.pdf

Download PDF • 80KB

Expecting a new consultation again soon

We have heard from the Planning Officer this week that Green Switch have finally submitted more information to Ashford Borough Council and that the Council intend to go out to the statutory 30 day Consultation, possibly as early as 5th October. This would mean we will have until the 3rd November to submit further objections in light of Green Switch's comments!

As before, you will be receiving notification by post and planning notices will appear around the village again.

We have already started looking through the further documents and once we have established what the changes are we will hold another meeting in order to update you.

We urge you to read particularly the document called 'Supplementary Planning Report' and the relevant appendices which can be found on the planning portal and this link: Planning Application: PA/2022/2415

From first glances at the documents, it looks as though the Connection to the Grid will extend west from the site along Lower Lees Road, along Long Hill, then north-west along the New Cut, to the point of connection to the west of New Cut Road to the existing power line. We are sure we don't need to remind you that this is the route of the North Downs Way and will disrupt the lives of residents living along these lanes!

We will be in touch soon but just wanted to give you prior warning of what to expect.