Residents of Wistow Parish
Your Boundary
We have arrived at the time of year when vegetation growth starts to accelerate, so can I remind all residents to please make sure your vegetation is cut back on your boundary where it runs adjacent to a public footpath or the public highway. It should be cut back to your boundary or if it’s a tree it must be at least 2 metres above the public right of way. Also please consider street lighting. We as a Parish council endeavour to keep our lighting serviceable but it is for naught if it’s restricted in spreading light because of your vegetation. Any vegetation that action is taken upon may lead to an invoice to the resident for carrying out the work.
Solar Notices
You may well have seen notices re solar farms cropping up all over our parish. I offer you the following information on the matter. The government is pushing its net zero strategy and in doing so has dangled a big carrot (Money) for alternative energy. Firms are chasing the money and therefore looking for farm land to put systems in place. What you are seeing is scoping notices from those companies wanting farmers to get in touch; who may also benefit from the money tree, to provide the land for either panels or cabling. Farmers who have land which is not too profitable may well be tempted by that money. Now, if the project becomes a NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT then we have a small window of opportunity to object as this process is designed to accelerate the planning procedure and once accepted it gives them immense power to compulsory purchase land, close roads, just push ahead with no more consultation.
I believe that NYCC’s policy at the moment is not to accept planning applications on productive farm land.
Link to Government document
Link to have your say:
https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/having-your-say-guide
Rest assured I have complained to both planning and highways at NYCC about these notices as it is nothing more than flyposting; which is illegal in our country, but it didn’t attract much of a proactive response.
Rob Poskitt
Chair of Wistow Parish Council