Please see below a statement on Sunnica from East Cambridgeshire District Council’s leader CllrAnna Bailey

Council disappointed over Sunnica decision

The Leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council has expressed her extreme disappointment following today’s news the Sunnica solar farm has received approval from the Secretary of State.

The council, along with hundreds of local residents, has long been a vociferous objector to the plans for the massive solar farm which will span well over 900 football pitches.

It believes the site will have a significant negative impact on people living in the East Cambridgeshire villages of Isleham, Chippenham, Kennett and Snailwell, as well as Freckenham and Worlington in Suffolk, as well as the natural and historic environment of the local area.

Together with Cambridgeshire County Council, Suffolk County Council and West Suffolk Council it is also concerned about the site’s impact on biodiversity and local economy.

It was because of its sheer size that the planning application had to be decided by the Secretary of State in the first place.
The Council will be reviewing this decision carefully in the next few days to see how the decision was made. In addition, the Council will need to see what requirements will now become our legal responsibility to discharge on behalf of the Secretary of State once a developer comes forward seeking to build this energy farm.

Cllr Anna Bailey, Leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “We are heartbroken and extremely disappointed the new Secretary of State has seen fit to sideswipe the views of four councils and hundreds of local residents and businesses to agree to these proposals.

“This council is completely supportive of renewable energy. This has been demonstrated by our approval of renewable energy schemes on land outside of Burwell and Soham over the past few years.

“But it’s imperative such schemes are in the right place and are right for the communities in which they are located.

“This massive development will span over 900 football pitches and have a significant negative impact on people living in Isleham, Chippenham, Kennett and Snailwell. There are no benefits whatsoever for local people arising from this development.

“As a consequence, this council unanimously agreed not to the support the development during a special hearing of the planning committee on 3 November 2022.”

Travel for just £1 with the Tiger Bus Pass for under 25s  Young and worry-free? Keep it that way. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has launched the Tiger bus pass, offering bus fares for just £1 for those under 25.

The Tiger bus pass is free and designed to make public transport more affordable, helping young people travel to school, college, training, work, shopping, and social activities. This initiative is part of a broader effort by the Combined Authority to improve public transport in the region.

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Bottisham Parish Council, hereby gives notice, for residents to view the accounts (documentation pertaining to the finances of the council and the audit process) known as the ‘Period for the Exercise of Public Rights’.

Any interested person can inspect the accounting records, which includes but is not limited to local electors. You can inspect the accounting records for the financial year to which the audit relates and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts and other documents relating to those records. You can receive a copy of all, or part, of these records or documents. Your inspection must be about the accounts, or relate to an item in the accounts.

The viewing time commences: 10th June 2024 and ending on 19th July 2024 inclusive.

Please contact Bottisham Parish Clerk on clerk@bottisham-pc.gov.uk

The Annual Governance and Accountability Return for the Council Year 2023-24 (as required by The Accounts & Audit regulations 2015), has been submitted to the external auditors and will be published on this website.