Following the announcement by ERM on behalf of developers Voltalia, introducing the Springfield Solar Farm proposal a number of residents were so concerned by the major impact that the plan would have on the area, that they formed a group to work on ways of representing the communities' objections to the plan. This group is called SORELL (Save Our Rural East Lammermuir Landscape. SORELL now have a mandate from the Oldhamstocks and surrounding community to oppose the development of Springfield Solar Farm. It's activities are chronicled below.
Letter of support from Craig Hoy MSP
Press Conference comments by District 2 Supervisor Glenn Church on the Moss Landing Battery Fire 16/01/2025
This fire was in a 300 MW battery storage facility (described as one of the largest in the world). With favourable weather conditions, the evacuation area was 8 square miles. Springfield plans to construct 166 MW battery storage facility.
Petition (click on poster below to sign)
We support measures to combat Climate Change – but not at any cost.
Voltalia's proposal to build 50, 000 solar panels, a BESS and substation on 455 acres of agricultural land just 50 metres from the conservation village of Oldhamstocks and surrounding the homes at Oldhamstocks Mains, will industrialise the landscape for at least forty years.
National Planning Framework 4 - Policy 29 b) states, “Development proposals in rural areas should be suitably scaled, sited and designed to be in keeping with the character of the area.”
Please sign our petition to save our countryside, our history and the wildlife that we value so highly.
The quotes below are from supporters of the petition answering the question "What are your reasons for signing?"
"The project is in no way suitably scaled to the area."
"This proposed development is in entirely the wrong place, ruining a conservation village and productive farmland. It must fail on National Planning Framework 4 - policy 29b - and will give a conservation village a “Colditz” feel, not to mention the impact on those closest to it."
"I feel strongly the erection of so many solar panels in such proximity of unspoilt areas and on prime agricultural land would have a LONG LASTING NEGATIVE IMPACT on this part of East Lothian."
"My house is in the very middle of this development, which is medically unethical and completely unacceptable."
"This is a beautiful rural area which should not be spoiled by so many solar panels. Not only will this project spoil farmland but it will also pose a health risk to people who live right in the middle of it. It in the wrong place and will have a detrimental effect on the area."
"The rural communities of the East Lammermuirs are threatened by industrialisation from a host of green energy projects. They are generally on prime agricultural land. There are myriad safety issues during the construction period. Bess technology safety is uncertain."
"There are more appropriate ways to address the need for increased green energy other than covering valuable arrable land with solar panels, and with a less detrimental impact on the local community."
"The continued building, developments of houses, energy battery sites etc on agricultural land is shortsighted and unsustainable."
Solar farm proposals met with concern by campaign group
A CAMPAIGN group has been launched in the face of plans formore than 50,000 solar panels in the Lammermuir Hills.
Early plans for a solar farm near Oldhamstocks were revealedin 2024 and further proposals are expected to be unveiled in the coming months.
Voltalia, the firm behind the proposed Springfield SolarFarm, hopes to have an application submitted to the Scottish Government’sEnergy Consents Unit by the spring.
However, the plans have not won favour with a number ofnearby residents, who have expressed concerns.
The site measures about 148 hectares and those against theproposals claim that could see more than 50,000 panels put in place.
Among those concerned about the plans are the Zawinskifamily.
Joe Zawinski and his son Andrew built a full-size mock-up ofa solar panel, which they installed on Oldhamstocks Village Green.
They said: “We felt it was important that people realisejust how huge and invasive these panels are.
“Not only will hundreds of acres be covered by the panels,there will be three-metre-high security fences surrounding each field and alonglarge stretches of two of the three main access roads to the village.
“Add to that security lighting and cameras, and it will feellike we are driving through a high-security prison.”
Oldhamstocks residents have formed an action group to fightthe proposed Springfield Solar Farm project: SORELL (Save Our Rural EastLammermuir Landscape).
Gordon Simpson, who also lives in the area, has added hisvoice to the campaign.
He said: “It appears that Voltalia have taken a cavalier‘cut-and-paste’ attitude to their proposal and their scoping report to theEnergy Consents Unit and consultees.
“It is full of inaccuracies, misleading statements andsuggests leaving out many vital scoping exercises which will form theirenvironmental impact assessment, such as human health impacts, major accidentsand disasters as well as construction, traffic and many key environmentalimpacts.
“Almost all of these are contrary to East Lothian Council’sLocal Development Plan and large sections of the Scottish Government’s NPF4policy.”
The project is one of several energy related applicationsinvolving the Lammermuir Hills and the area to the south-east of Dunbar.
The campaign group is now urging Voltalia, the EnergyConsents Unit and consultees to reconsider the impact the proposed solarproject would pose to the community and local ecosystem.
According to the developers, a second public consultationevent is planned for February.
Voltalia has been approached for comment.
On Thursday, 28th November 2024, SORELL held a Community Meeting in Oldhamstocks Village Hall which was well represented by local residents and the following items were discussed:
- Introduction of group, aims and objectives
- What work has been done to date
- What we can do - legalities
- Précis of Voltalia’s plans
- Timelines - ELC deadline(s), ECU timeline
- Community Survey - preferably respond online
- Next Steps - how can you help?
- Fundraising
A great deal or support was expressed for the group and for the work that it was doing.
On 15th November 2024 members of the group had a meeting with Paul McLennan MSP. He stated that, along with Councillor Lyn Jardine, he had met with representatives of Voltalia and impressed on them that they need to work with the community and go beyond the statutory consultation events. So far no approach has been made by Voltalia.
Several meetings of the group have been held and information gathered. Some associates who were willing to help and share experience and knowledge have been contacted. Councillor Norman Hampshire has met with members of the group and has listened to its concerns.
Letter to East Lothian Courier 2nd Sept 2024
In his Courier article on 29th August Paul McLennan MSP noted the ambition of the Scottish Government for Scotland to be the worlds first clean energy superpower.
The need for renewable energy is recognised. However, the proposals need to be balanced with the impact on communities where infrastructure is built.
When the Scottish Cabinet met in Haddington in 2023 I raised concerns with the First Minister about the impact of energy development proposals on the rural communities of the East Lammermuir area. He said that the concerns of residents must be heard and that there should be co production of proposals with local people. Local communities should not be adversely impacted.
Since then there have been multiple more proposals for energy infrastucture. The most recent is Springfield Solar Farm – 400 acres of prime agricultural land near the conservation village of Oldhamstocks to be developed as a solar farm with an associated Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
Each application is looked at on its own merits. Some are agreed by ELC, some by the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit and some by the UK Government body Ofgem. It is the Scottish Power Energy Network (SPEN) proposal for a substation at Branxton, which is a UK level decision, which has led to the gold rush of applications for energy developments seeking a grid connection in the East Lammermuir area.
The result, if all are consented, is a cumulative impact on the roads network (particularly small rural roads and dangerous A1 junctions), biodiversity, loss of prime agricultural land, industrialization of the rural landscape and above all on the residents of the area.
The proposed developments will all come in the same timescale. This raises concerns about where construction workers will be accommodated. That issue has been raised for over 3 years and ELC have to come up with answers. The Council leader has previously suggested floating hotels on the First of Forth!. When asked, Paul McLennan has said that ELC must take the lead. As noted elsewhere ELC Policy is seeing a reduction in short term lets and there is as potential for construction worker accommodation needs to compete with tourist accommodation.
It is essential that community concerns are actively heard by decision makers. Over 100 people attended the public consultation event at Oldhamstocks Village Hall for the Springfield Solar Farm to raise their concerns. However, to date, community concerns have not been taken forward on developments. A BESS proposal at Aikengall was approved in August 2024 without discussion at Planning Committee despite objections from East Lammermuir and West Barns Community Councils and without any public engagement by the developer, an offshoot of Community Windpower. A BESS at Innerwick, which will be decided by Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit (ECU) will not see an ELC Officer report discussed at Planning Committee because it was not called in by an ELC Councillor. Again there were community and Community Council objections. It is noted that in Fife any development that is opposed by statutory consultees like community councils must go to Planning Committee.
The community concerns are not nimbyist. They are a wish for the community voice to be heard. The energy infrastructure will be in place for over 40 years. Many proposals are for development on prime agricultural land which will not be available to produce food at a time of growing concerns about food security in the face of global conflicts.
Jacquie Bell
East Lothian Liberal Democrats
Belhaven, Dunbar
Following the consultation event on 28th August 2024 introducing the Springfield Solar Farm proposal a number of residents were so concerned by the major impact that the plan would have on the area, they formed a group to work on ways of representing the communities' objections to the plan. Of initial concern was the fact that the developer (Voltalia) had not been in touch with Douglas Alexander MP, Paul McLennan MSP, East Lothian Council, Scottish Land Commission and had only had one brief Microsoft Teams meeting with the Chair of East Lammermuir Community Council.