Within days of the General Election on 4 July, the new Labour government gave the go-ahead to three large solar farm proposals in the country: one in Lincolnshire, one covering Rutland and Lincolnshire and the other in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. This is of particular significance to North Bedfordshire where there is a proposal for a large 2,000-acre solar farm between Keysoe, Little Staughton and Pertenhall - the East Park Energy project.
In light of the government's actions, Richard has again met with the owners of the East Park Energy project, Brockwell Energy, and with affected parish councils to discuss their reaction to the news and to ensure that residents' voices are heard as much as possible in the planning process.
Richard Fuller MP said:
The consultation on this proposal is expected shortly and I have informed Brockwell Energy in my meeting with them in July that I will be objecting to the proposal.
Given that the new Labour Government appears to be moving fast to approve other solar farm proposals, in addition to meeting with affected parish councils, I have also written to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, to ask for a meeting with him to discuss the East Park Energy solar farm proposal in North Bedfordshire.
You can follow Richard's updates on solar here.