Local Member of Parliament Bim Afolami joined a group of local residents in Great Wymondley to discuss local concerns over plans for new solar farms at Great Wymondley and Redcoats Green. These plans will see 150,000 solar panels installed between Great Wymondley and the A1(M) motorway.
At the meeting, residents expressed a number of concerns around the impact that the solar farms would have on the local countryside, safety, potential habitat loss and the local archaeological interest in this site. Concerns were also raised that the company making the application for the solar farm had not arranged a meeting or consulted local people about their plans.
Bim Afolami MP said,
“This was a productive discussion with local residents in Great Wymondley about proposals for new solar farms near the village. Whilst it is absolutely vital that we deliver new forms of clean energy, including onshore solar, we must ensure that local residents are consulted and that any mitigations which can reduce the impact of energy production on them are considered. I will be contacting the company bringing these proposals and asking that they hold a community meeting where local people can directly raise these issues.
“In Westminster, I continue to work in detail on energy policy as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Renewable and Sustainable Energy and as a member of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee. I am campaigning to secure compensation for local communities like Great Wymondley which are impacted by new clean energy production through cheaper – or even free – energy for residents.”
