Residents of a picturesque English village famous for its 16th century pink thatched cottages are in uproar over plans for a 50 acre solar farm.
Locals living in Cavendish, Suffolk, could soon be disrupted by hundreds of lorries passing through to get to the site of the proposed farm, located off Wales End Road.
The development could power up to 6,000 homes for 40 years, and the applicant argues it will provide ‘positive enhancements to the landscape and character’ of the area.
But some locals fear it will create traffic and parking chaos, contribute to the loss of wildlife and blight their countryside views. Around 70 objections to the plans have been registered online with the local council.
Cavendish, a quintessential village nestled in the heart of the Suffolk countryside, has stood for hundreds of years and has 75 listed buildings, as well as 21 thatched properties and iconic pink cottages.
Around 900 people live in the village and civil parish, and it was home to Sir John Cavendish who was killed during the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381.
Rosie Perkins has lived in Cavendish for 13 years and said the proposed scheme would ‘disrupt the whole life’ of the village.
The artist said: ‘There’s going to be a huge amount of heavy vehicles coming through.
Locals living in Cavendish, Suffolk, could soon be disrupted by hundreds of lorries passing through to get to the site of the proposed solar farm
Cavendish, a quintessential village nestled in the heart of the Suffolk countryside, has stood for hundreds of years and has 75 listed buildings
Local artist Rosie Perkins is concerned about the impact of construction traffic, as well as the loss of flowers from the area
‘The road already suffers from broken water mains and flooding – we’ve always got cones and traffic lights out.
‘The vehicles will be going past the school and the church – it’s going to disrupt the whole life of the village. There is also the risk of fires from the lithium batteries.’
Lithium batteries are a popular choice of battery for solar farm developers and are used to store the energy created before it is deployed to the grid.
Ms Perkins continued: ‘This is good farming land and it shouldn’t be covered with that stuff. We could put it on people’s roofs.
‘What are emergency vehicles going to do when they can’t pass?
‘We’ve got absolutely masses of flowers which won’t come back. Any government should stand up to it.’
Cindy and Brian Lockley also have concerns over the flow of traffic and have lived in the village for four years.
Cindy, 64, said: ‘I feel if they [government] want us to do solar then they should consider putting panels on everybody’s house – or certainly new builds.
Brian Lockley, 67, said the road where the solar farm is planned is ‘unsuitable’ for HGVs
Around 900 people live in the village and civil parish, and it was home to Sir John Cavendish who was killed during the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381
Villagers have been campaigning against the proposals, with around 70 objections registered with the local council
‘We shouldn’t be taking away our valuable agricultural farmland.
‘If they keep taking the land, we’re never going to be independent. We’re not going to self sufficient in any way.
‘The road is not suitable for heavy goods. It’s all single track and the impact on people living here will be horrendous.
‘There’s such historic housing in Cavendish – the consistent use of that road with heavy goods vehicles could damage the infrastructure underneath.
‘We have great public footpaths, I walk my dog along that route. It would really spoil the feeling of the village.’
Her husband Brian, 67, added: ‘The road is unsuitable for heavy traffic. Even if there’s a car coming up the road, a lot of the time coming down from Peacocks Road, you have to give way.
‘I can’t see a traffic light system and queues along the road working.’
Construction of the solar farm would take around six months, according to Cavendish Solar Limited.
Construction of the solar farm would take around six months, according to Cavendish Solar Limited
According to a construction management plan, there could be 766 two-way movements of vehicles during the building phase (Pictured: Site of proposed solar farm outlined in red)
A consultation event revealed fears about access to the site, but the developer said changes had been made to limit the potential effects.
According to a construction management plan, there could be 766 two-way movements of vehicles during the building phase.
‘In this location the road varies in width, and it is acknowledged that, in many places, a car and HGV will be unable to pass,’ the document reads.
‘As there is little scope to widen the highway to provide passing areas, it is proposed that traffic management is employed whenever an HGV is accessing/departing the site during the construction phase.’
Mitigation includes managing traffic with stop and go boards and implementing a temporary traffic restriction order outside of the church to restrict parking.
West Suffolk MP Nick Timothy added: ‘Vehicles going to and from such a building site need the benefit of a proper road.
‘This is crucial so residents and the environment are not unduly disturbed by the large volume of lorries serving the site.’
