The company that has applied for planning permission for a solar farm adjacent to New Ash Green in Hartley Bottom and Ridley, with electricity cables through New Ash Green to Eaglesfield Equestrian Centre, has submitted many detailed documents to Sevenoaks District Council in an attempt to counter the large number of objections received by the Council.

The Village Association has reviewed these submissions but is of the opinion that they do not deal with most of the objections that were submitted in March by the VA.  A further document detailing the reasons for the VA’s continuing objection to the application has now been sent to the Council.

We have repeated our previously expressed concerns and also emphasised the potential implications of the risks of air and water pollution from a battery fire because we understand that this is a matter of great concern to many New Ash Green residents.

The further objection now submitted to the Council by the Village Association can be seen in full here…

We continue to encourage all residents to send comments to the Council, if possible before the published date of Thursday 5 June, but later comments will still be taken into account if they are received before the Council reaches its decision.

250602_NAGVAL_objections_(2)

The Village Association has submitted an objection to the planning application for a solar farm adjacent to New Ash Green in Hartley Bottom and Ridley, with electricity cables through New Ash Green to Eaglesfield Equestrian Centre.  This objection represents the great majority of residents who have expressed their opposition through their individual resident societies, and directly to the Village Association.

We have based the objection on the impact that the development would have on the VA’s land and the quality of life of most residents of the village.  We have also taken into account that there will be only minimal direct benefit to our village.  Our objections are therefore summarised as:

• • The harm to the Green Belt countryside.
  • The adverse environmental impact.
  • The loss of good agricultural land.
  • The potential damage to ancient woodland.
  • The effect on the wider landscape.

The full Village Association objection submitted to the Council can be seen here…
2025-03-01 NAGVAL Planning objection v2 .

We would encourage all residents to make their individual voices heard by submitting their comments here as soon as possible….
https://pa.sevenoaks.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=makeComment&keyVal=SOSYUDBKL7I00