A number of people have asked me recently about ongoing developments in respect of the Outwood Farm Road solar array. I have been looking into this and keeping people updated on various Facebook pages but am now in a position to give a more detailed update. Planning Enforcement Officers at Basildon Council have confirmed to me that MS Power, the original applicants, will NOT now be taking the solar farm development forward but, unfortunately, it has been confirmed that a new firm, Island Green Power (IGP), will now be undertaking the development. So, sadly, the Outwood Farm solar array will be going ahead. This is a disappointment to me and residents will be aware that I have bitterly opposed this solar farm being built on Green Belt in my ward. Unfortunately, planning permission, once granted, it attached to the land and it is open to another company to come forward and implement the permission (as long as they comply with all the relevant conditions) and, regrettably, IGP have done so.
Council officers have been in communication with a representative from IGP regarding suspected breaches of planning permission I have brought to the Council's attention. They have since provided the Council with a detailed note of where they are with the project and they are adamant they have NOT done any work at the site and are fully aware of all the conditions, including a pre-commencement survey of Outwood Farm Road to establish its current condition. They will then become responsible for repairing any damage caused by delivery vehicles after that point!
Buildings that have been erected at the site and roads that have been laid down across some of the fields are thought to have been done by the farmer who owns the land. I am advised they have NOTHING to do with IGP and may have been done as agricultural permitted development. The Planning Enforcement Team are following this up with the farmer and seeking an explanation as to what these are for! I shall be following that up with officers.
I would ask that local residents remain vigilant and report any issues either to myself or direct to Basildon Council. I can be e-mailed at andrew.schrader@members.basildon.gov.uk.
The "greenest" thing would be to use the land for arable farming, but there isn't a lot of money in that.
🏊♀️ The Queen’s memories of achieving a Life Saving Award with Royal Life Saving Society UK - RLSS UK in 1941, aged 14.
Her Majesty, Patron of the Royal Life Saving Society since 1952, spoke to lifesavers and researchers from the organisation via video call last week - 80 years after completing her Junior Respiration Award.
The Royal Life Saving Society works in 30 Commonwealth nations to combat preventable death by drowning, and promote water safety and lifesaving education.
Drowning remains one of the biggest causes of preventable death in the world today, with an estimated 235,000 deaths every year.
Watch the conversation in full on our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3faACnK
With the elections over, it's back to the 'day job' of being a councillor. I am attending a virtual planning appeal connected to 'Skirmish Wood' enforcement case.
Basildon Conservatives are delighted to have won the votes necessary to take back control of Basildon Borough Council and we congratulate all of our successful candidates and, on their behalf, thank the voters in all parts of the Borough who placed their faith in the Conservative Party. We won't let you down.
Commiserations, also, to our unsuccessful candidates, who fought such spirited campaigns and we wish them better luck next time.
