A local man and army veteran with the Coldstream Guards, Gene Plews, has contacted Oakham Nub News to share his stance on the Mallard Pass Solar Farm and why his is in support of the Mallard Pass Action Group opposing the build.

Mallard Pass Solar Farm is proposed to be located on agricultural land either side of the East Coast Main Line near Essendine, partly situated in South Kesteven, Lincolnshire, and partly in Rutland.

The proposed site is close to the National Grid Ryhall 400 kilovolts (kV) Substation at Uffington Lane, which is where the electricity generated from the proposed solar farm would connect to the national grid, "providing clean, secure power for a variety of uses; including homes, industry and infrastructure".

The Mallard Pass website adds that "Mallard Pass is expected to generate in the region of 350 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy, enough to power the equivalent of 92,000 UK households" or to "take the equivalent of 35,700 cars off of roads".

However, there has been a tidal wave of opposition to this build, with Gene Plews adding his voice to the conversation most recently.

Mr Plews explained: "I am a supporter of the Mallard Pass Action Group against solar farms. Due to the size of the Mallard Pass application, it bypasses both sets of Councils and goes straight to government which is worrying.

"Truss said she was against them on accepting office, however, Rishi Sunak has already stated that he wants the UK energy independent in the next 5 years and is pro solar. Local conservatives in Grantham supported Sunak last time when he stood for PM, and no doubt some did also in living Rutland despite it being a highly contentious local planning issue.

"What is Alicia Kearns's position on Sunak becoming prime minister? Did she vote for him or not, I wonder, thus going against local residents' concerns, even though she has said she is against solar?

"If she has voted in favour of Sunak this time around for PM, how does that help the many Rutland villages impacted by this massive build? Even if she did not vote for Sunak this time, her new boss seems to favour solar so, again, will that allow her to help local residents if he is at the top pushing solar?"

Image courtesy of Mallard Pass Solar Farm.

Ms Kearns said: "Since the Mallard Pass solar plant was announced I have worked with the Mallard Pass Action Group and our local communities on combatting this totally unacceptable development. I am still collecting signatures for my petition against Mallard Pass, which I will be presenting to Parliament soon. If anyone wishes to sign, please email me on [email protected] and I will have a sheet sent to you.

"I did support Rishi Sunak to become Prime Minister because I believed that he would calm the markets, restore stability, and provide the economic focus needed in this time of global crisis. I also think it is important to distinguish between different types of solar. I am completely for solar panels on roofs, brownfield and in and on industrial areas. I am not in support of an over 2000-acre development built on 53% best and most versatile land by a company with allegations of forced labour in their supply chains. The Prime Minister has stated he doesn't support building on greenbelt, and I am confident he will protect our agricultural and biodiverse rich land."

Prior to this, Alicia Kearns showed her support for Penny Mordaunt in the September leadership election, and in the first round of the October battle, congratulating her on a "positive and passionate campaign" despite Mordaunt failing to reach the 100 votes needed to allow her to run for PM a second time:

As ever, @PennyMordaunt fought a positive and passionate campaign focused on making our country healthier, happier and more secure. https://t.co/4oLELGLf4O

— Alicia Kearns MP (@aliciakearns) October 24, 2022

While still under the leadership of Boris Johnson, Alicia Kearns had voiced her opposition to Mallard Pass Solar Farm, campaigning to "Stop the Mallard Pass Solar Plant Development".

Ms Kearns also stated that the farm "would be eight times the size of the U.K.'s largest solar plant – the 250 acre Shotwick Solar Park in Flintshire. It's the size of 1,400 football pitches. It's so large that it can't be approved by Rutland County Council – it has to be approved by the Government as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project."

Get in touch to join the conversation by emailing [email protected].