Plans for huge solar farm will 'spoil views of Malvern Hills', residents say

Plans for a 271-acre solar farm in Worcestershire will 'ruin views of the Malvern Hills ', according to concerned residents.
The proposed development would span countryside near Powick and would be spread over chunks of land around the main A road in the area, the A449.
If it gets the go ahead, the solar farm will cover an area equivalent to around 170 football pitches.
It is understood by ITV News that three different farmers would be required to lease their land to the company behind the proposals for it to be feasible.
Concerned locals from Preserve Powick Landscape and Nature (PPLAN) say the plans will destroy the landscape, be damaging for wildlife and increase fire risk.
They say they are also worried about the increase in traffic and noise pollution in the area.
Pictures from SWNS
The group has put up signs around the site and recently they marched through the affected fields in an attempt to halt the proposals.
Speaking to ITV News Central, campaigner Andrea Trickett-Born said: "It's habitat loss, it's views to and from our beautiful Malvern Hills. It's the road works on the A449 which is a single carriage way road, which are going to take place for seven months plus.
"But mainly, our beautiful countryside and losing this beautiful vista. If Covid has taught us anything it is to preserve our green spaces."
Meanwhile, Jo Loader said hundreds of thousands of people visit the Malvern Hills each year and they want to protect the area for everyone to be able to enjoy for years to come.
"We want to preserve the views, they are really special", she added.
RWE Renewables UK Solar & Storage Ltd, the company behind the plans, said: "Providing a sustainable, secure home-grown source of clean electricity is essential to the UK's power security and to helping meet the Government's Clean Power 2030 targets - solar power is low cost, easy and quick to deploy while the land can be returned to its original agricultural use at the end of the project's lifecycle.
"We appreciate there will be contrary opinions, and as such engagement and opportunity to encourage and listen to feedback is a cornerstone of RWE's approach to any project, including at Chapel Hill Solar Farm. The project equally has its support – during consultation in the Autumn of 2023 over 54% of feedback respondents stated that they supported the proposal for Chapel Hill Solar Farm.
"Feedback as a whole has been positive, with a widespread recognition of the need for renewable energy to help tackle climate change, the ecological crisis and the UK's energy security."
It added: "The batteries we propose to use are lithium-ion batteries which are exactly the same as in your mobile phone. It is safe technology. The batteries we propose to use already have significant safety measures built into them, in line with national fire chief battery guidance, that help prevent the risk of fire in the first place."
A decision on whether plans will move forward is expected in the autumn.

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3 hours ago

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Edinburgh Reporter

7 hours ago

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What future for Regent Road Bowling Green?

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Successful examples include the allotments on Victoria Park, which are gradually turning into community allotments. Regent Road Bowling Green when in use Regent Community Bowling Club suffered badly during the Covid-19 pandemic and transferred stewardship back to the council. This transfer has prompted renewed discussions and initiatives aimed at revitalising the site for the benefit of the local community. The Thriving Green Space Team of The City of Edinburgh Council set things in motion. Local groups such as Colony of Artists, Abbeyhill Action, and Leith Community Growers have expressed interest in keeping the Bowling Green as part of the local community. Two locals, Kat Chisolm and Tom Adams (of Abbeyhill Colony of Artists) have now taken on the lease of the site, on a month by month rolling basis. They've been negotiating with the council for two years, but need now to turn hopes into concrete steps. To secure a longer term lease, they need to show the council that there is strong community support and that a capable management team is in place. Securing a long-term lease is a prerequisite for funding applications. For example, Leith Community Growers were very interested in getting involved but would have required at least a five-year lease to make it workable for them. Regent Road Bowling Green in the haar, by alljengi on Strike while the iron is hot This need to put together a capable, legally constituted management committee, including a diverse range of people and skills, was the aim of a drop-in session on Saturday. Despite the cool, foggy morning, dozens of people turned up, creating quite a buzz. Kat and Tom were happy to see a good range of ages and 'skill sets' among those offering their assistance. As Kat and Tom emphasised, while statements of support are welcome, it was offers of active involvement that are really required at this stage. They need to 'strike while the iron is hot' and not just talk about it but actually do something'. Kat and Tom have no interest in carrying the project on just by themselves. They've taken on the role 'as guardians for the community' to keep the site in the public domain. They are aware that the council would be happy to see the site being used by a business, following examples such as the Herringbone Restaurant, which uses the former public toilets in Royal Terrace Gardens on London Road. Other such examples include the Toll House at Canonmills. Many regard such projects as denuding the public domain. The most controversial example was the effort to turn the former Royal High School, just along the road from the Regent Road Bowling Green, into a hotel. That project was eventually blocked, but illustrated the pressures on the council to seek large injections of money from offloading public assets. 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Daily Mirror

12 hours ago

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Wife pays huge £20k fee to access her bank account after husband dies from Covid

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It was during this time that he caught COVID-19 and sadly died. ‌ While under specialist care, Nicky said she was left in "limbo" as she was unable to access their joint bank account. Adding to this, Nicky and Andy were co-directors in their events and management company, but she was unable to secure full access. This meant Nicky couldn't manage the business or pay herself dividends. Andy had not appointed a legal or digital executor, prepared a will, or set up a power of attorney before his illness and death. "It was an unholy mess", Nicky shared exclusively with the Mirror. "All of our life savings were in one account. Basically, it's entirely my fault because I spend far too much on shoes, so he was the money man. He kept all of the savings in his ISA. He joked that it was for a rainy day, and that day happened in 2017. "It was pouring down and I couldn't access our savings when I needed it the most. 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"There are a lot of important assets we need to keep and treasure," she shared. "We need to be having those difficult conversations, but we don't talk about it enough. You don't think it's going to happen to you, but then it does." ‌ Reflecting back, she added: "It was heartbreaking, horrible, kind of limbo. I felt like I was fighting battles on every front. To have to deal with admin, lack of access, financial worries, on top of a life-changing tragedy, was beyond belief. I used to wake up and couldn't believe what had happened to our beautiful family, I still don't." Following this time, Nicky was inspired to launch a platform designed to help others like her - widows and widowers - in finding companionship, love, and hope following profound loss. Research Manager at SunLife, Jordan Flynn, shared: "If you're thinking about leaving instructions for your funeral or writing a will, it's a good time to leave clear instructions for your digital estate. 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If you have appointed a digital executor you won't need to list all your passwords, just the username or email address associated with each account." 'Legacy contact' "Most major platforms have a specific feature where you can appoint someone as your digital executor within your account profile. For example, Apple has a 'Legacy Contact', Facebook also has a Legacy Contact, and Google has Inactive Account Manager – it is something you have to opt into, so make sure you have taken the necessary steps." Document digital wishes clearly "You need to make sure there is evidence of what you want to happen to your digital legacy – there can be no grey areas. Clearly state whether you want accounts deleted, memorialised, or passed on, and who should receive sentimental content like photos or videos." Store instructions securely "You need to make sure your wishes are securely stored – ideally, include your digital instructions in your will to ensure they're legally binding. Alternatively, you can store them with your solicitor or in a secure place known to your executor." Jordan added: "Preparing for your digital legacy is no longer optional in the internet age. It's a simple step that can save your loved one's unnecessary distress - and ensures your online identity reflects your wishes, even after you're gone." "SunLife's Digital Wishes Pack ( includes everything you need to know about listing online accounts, deciding what should happen to each one, and leaving clear instructions for loved ones – download it for free today."