Plans for a solar farm between Camber and Lydd have been unveiled, the third proposed for the Romney Marsh. The South Brooks site could be over a thousand hectares in size and also include a battery storage plant.
The proposals are being put forward by EDF and PS Renewables for six pieces of land around Lydd with the biggest to the north of Jury's Gap at Camber. The project is considered a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) which will be decided by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero rather than go through the local planning process.
The solar farm could generate enough energy to supply 140,000 homes each year according to the project's proposals. "To secure our domestic supply of electricity, respond to increasing demand and meet our climate change commitments, over the next decade we need to replace older forms of energy production with homegrown sources of clean, renewable energy."
The latest plans follow two other proposals for solar farms on the marsh - the South Kent Energy Park surrounding the village of Old Romney and the Shepway Energy Park near Newchurch.
The Hands Off Our Marsh pressure group fear all three schemes will irreversibly damage the unique character, environment, agricultural heritage and tourist economy of Romney Marsh. “We have launched a new petition opposing the South Brooks Solar Farm but we don’t know if it will make a difference,” says Amanda Farrant, one of the founders of Hands Off Our Marsh.
She says the proposals will have a huge affect on Romney Marsh. “It will be almost impossible to hide these giant solar power stations. While the agricultural environment will be severely impacted, the tourist economy will also be hugely affected too. Tourism is a vital part of our economy here. These mega schemes will not benefit local communities in any way. We are like sacrificial lambs being slaughtered on the alter of the race to net zero by big corporate interests and deaf politicians.”
Public events to explain the proposals are planned for the next two weeks:
- Saturday September 27 (12pm – 4pm) Lydd Community Hall, Manor Road, Lydd TN29 9HU
- Friday October 10 (2pm – 6pm) Camber Memorial Hall, Lydd Road, Camber TN31 7RJ
- Saturday October 11(12pm – 4pm) Lydd Community Hall, Manor Road, Lydd TN29 9HU
