Cassington Parish Council IP 20055026
Note to the Examiners
Dear Sir / Madam,
We summarise here our submission to Deadline 3 in response to the Applicant’s responses to Examiner’s Questions and to Written Representations.
We note that we have been unable to obtain a response from our hydrologist , Clive Carpenter, most likely because he is on vacation. Whilst most of his report remains unchallenged (see submission: Cassington Parish Council Responses to Submissions for Deadline 2 (Applicants Responses to the Examiners Questions and Written Representations) For Deadline 3), we are sure that he would like to respond to the Applicant’s comments on cited papers in Appendix 2 of the Applicant’s Responses to the Examiner’s Questions (PINS ref: EN010147 Report ref: EN010147/APP/12.2 – Appendix 2). This will be forthcoming for Deadline 4 if we cannot make contact with GWP Consultants prior to Deadline 3. We trust this approach is acceptable as it appears to be one relied on by the Applicant for various matters.
Summary
Cassington Parish Council contend that as a result of the oppressive impact of the Botley West Solar Power Station and the increased risk of flooding it imposes on the villages of Cassington, Worton and the settlement of Jericho Barns the scheme should be reduced to the summits of the hills above Cassington and removed altogether from areas to the east as outlined in Appendix 1. We find that the visual impacts on the residents of Cassington have been significantly underestimated because of flaws in the methodologies of the LVIA, the Glint and Glare study and the lack of a specific RVAA which have led to the imposition of a 25m buffer to the boundaries of properties and the Sports Field of Cassington Village.
Many other aspects of our Written Representation remain unaddressed, and we find little has changed in the proposal (e.g. for impacts related to ecology).
We question PVDP’s track record in Solar Farm Development and request a more detailed description of their past role in the Solar Developments they cite and also request that the Examiners ensure that there is full confidence in the funding and legitimate sources of funding for this project.
We believe that the socioeconomic analyses of the Botley West project have not accounted for impacts on local businesses or the substantial financial losses of residents whose properties lie within 1.5km of the project. Whilst the latter is not a planning consideration when it comes to impacts on individual properties it certainly is a major financial loss borne by the many compared to the very few who will financially benefit considerably from this project. As such it should be considered as a negative socioeconomic impact.
Alex Rogers
Cassington Parish Council.