WHERE IS ALL THE AGRICULTURE LAND GOING... GOING... GONE?

Not all farmers are land owners. Those that are not landowers depend on their landlords to continually extend their leases, so that they can continue to farm. The actual land owners could live in the community, another part of the country, even abroad, using the land for investment purposes (e.g. in 2018 Bristol Airport was majority owned by Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Canada!) 

Local Plan 2030 Pre-Submission Consultation Link (PDF)

NSC Current Interactive Local Plan Policies Map 

NB: Previous 'Renewable Search Areas' of Local Plan Solar and wind mapping has been removed?

Previous BOB Local Plan presentation and April 2022 Consultation submissions

Draft BOB Rural Strategy Considerations (NOV23)

BOB Food Production & Security in relation to Transport Climate & Communities Policies & Scrutiny Panel (30NOV23)

Related Biodiversity Plan Consultation (OCT23) and  BOB response

HOW IS NSC AND ITS POLICIES STRATEGICALLY ASSESSING AND PROTECTING FOOD PRODUCTION AND FOOD SECURITY IN NORTH SOMERSET?

DEFRA Agriculture in the UK Evidence Pack September 2022 update (PDF)

• "20% of England’s sheep herd is in the South West
• 39% of England’s dairy herd is farmed in the South West.
• The West Midlands has the smallest average farm size compared to the average for England, closely followed by the South West [so if small farms are encouraged to diversify e.g. solar, BNG, nature recovery, housing, etc. food production and security will be affected]
• In 2020, after deductions for wages, rent, interest and asset depreciation and taking subsidy contributions into account, the total income from farming in England was £3.6bn, with the South West contributing the most (19%) and the North East the least (4%).
• Since 1988, the amount of food consumed in the UK of UK origin has fallen from 66% to 58% and the amount of food consumed of EU origin has risen from 18% to 23% over the same period. However, food of UK origin rose 4% and food from EU origin decreased 5% in 2021 compared to 2020. The amount of food consumed from each region outside the UK and EU has remained stable over time."
• Farming and environment evidence packs - latest editions

Local Plan Page 98, "North Somerset Wind Energy and Solar PV Supplementary Planning Documents will be updated to highlight potential locations identified as most technically suitable areas for renewable energy schemes from the Renewable Energy Resource Assessment Study (2021)." How can the public comment on the Local Plan solar and wind proposals without this document being published? Current NSC Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Arrays SPD 2013 pg34 image, How can the public comment on the Local Plan if the related updated version doesn't exist? Where are these locations? 

"The SPD will also provide guidance in relation to the Landscape Sensitivity Assessment (2021), which assessed the landscape sensitivity of different parts of North Somerset in relation to solar PV and wind turbine development."  Pg16 image? Current version in consultation is Landscape Sensitivity Assessment Solar PV and wind energy development NOV 23, why refer to a 2021 version vhen a 2023 document exists?

• C.67 "LCA G1 has a lower landscape sensitivity to solar PV developments as it has a greater sense of visual enclosure provided by the gently undulating landform and surrounding woodland and mature hedgerow boundaries."
• C.68 "LCA G2 has a slightly higher sensitivity to solar PV developments due to its more open character with low hedgerows, and the high frequency of seminatural habitats and historic features..." (pg 140)

"For some uses it may be possible to return the land to productive agricultural use without any loss of quality, should the proposed use no longer be required. For example, solar farms or similar. Suitable measures will be put in place to ensure this could be achieved." What suitable measures can be put in place?

(p204)  NSC Local Plan DP53 Best & Most versatile land states, "The proportion of Grade 1 land in North Somerset is approximately 7% and 10% for Grade 2. 60% falls in Grade 3..." How much of this land is already in use as food production for people and animals, regardless of whether it is 3a or 3b, the latter seemingly a target for solar, housing, nature recovery, BNG, etc.? Note that the 3b land classification is said to be ‘moderate quality agriculture land’, not poor or useless, and has a role in current farming (See Langford Mega-Solar Development on grades 3b and 4 agriculture land) and mega-solar project maps on BOB.

Local Plan Page 203 for Best and Most Versatile Land statement re: Grades 1, 2 and 3a. No mention of 3b or quantification of the area of land involved?

Local Plan Page 205, "Farmers are encouraged to diversify their activities and supplement their income from enterprises other than normal food production." What is being done to protect existing food production and food security? What is NSC doing to improve this locally?

Strategic gaps Background Paper November 2023 (PDF)

"Bleadon/Weston super Mare A strategic gap is not appropriate. Having regard to SHLAA sites received and taking account of the generally relatively steeply sloping terrain between the settlements, it is considered that there is not likely to be development pressure leading towards potential coalescence of the settlements. Also, the relatively sensitive nature of the landscape, taking account of the topography and views, would suggest that if significant development was proposed there could well be a landscape reason for refusal." So how does this fit with potential solar over Bleadon fields?

Carbon offsetting report – Carbon offsetting within an energy intensity policy framing Report to West of England Authorities Final 

"Prioritising rooftop solar would minimise the use of agricultural land for solar development and the associated landscape and other impacts. This is likely to align with understandable public and political opinion that we should prioritise rooftop installations ahead of greenfield solar." (30JUN22)

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See also:

• Short Guide to the pre-submission Local Plan 2039 (PDF)

• How to respond to the consultation (PDF)

• Current NSC Corporate Plan Consultation (OCT23)
• Related Biodiversity Plan Consultation (OCT23)
• Previous Local Plan Consultation (APR22)
  • and related info

WHERE IS ALL THE AGRICULTURE LAND GOING... GOING... GONE?

BOB Corporate Plan Consultation Response

NSC state they are 'Open, Fairer, Green North Somerset', so:

• Why has the open statement "Weston-super-Mare – our largest town is set to become the second biggest settlement in the West of England over the next decade" after Bristol, been removed form this version of the Corporate Plan, why?
• NSC’s plan indicates that 70% of North Somerset is already ‘green’ countryside, with "30% of our population live in rural areas with the remaining population living in the coastal towns of Weston-Super-Mare (40%), Clevedon, Portishead and the market town of Nailsea (30%)"
• What does 'green' mean, especailly if agriculture, food producion and food security are not mentioned?

Budget Questions:

• How much is spent on the Green Agenda? Rewilding & Tree planting? Decarbonisation? Energy efficiency? Heating, heat source pumps, lighting? Green education/ indoctrination?
• How much is spent on migration and migrants?
• How was the £50million to £13million reducted? How much NSC agricultural land was sold?
• How is the £13million deficit over the next 4 years going to be paid?
• How much is spent on actual food production out of the ;3% helping people keep well and stay healthy' rather than food packages and education?

"NSC Public Engagement sessions

The leader of the council Mike Bell, and Executive Members, will be hosting a number of public engagement sessions throughout November and December to talk about the Corporate Plan and budget. No need to book, please just drop by.

• Monday 27 November, Hangstone Pavillion, Yatton, 6.30pm until 7.30pm
• Friday 1 December, Tithe Barn, Nailsea, 6.30pm until 7.30pm
• Monday 4 December, Castlewood, Clevedon, 6.30pm until 7.30pm
• Wednesday 6 December, Old Town Hall, Weston, 6.30pm until 7.30pm
• Wednesday 13 December, Folk Hall, Portishead, 6.30pm until 7.30pm

Executive members will also be joining our mobile libraries in December on the following dates to meet with residents and talk through issues and ideas. No need to book, just turn up!

• Wednesday 13 December, Wrington - Memorial Hall car park, 2.00pm – 3.00pm
• Friday 15 December, Long Ashton – Community Centre car park, 10.00am – 11.00am
• Monday 18 December, Backwell - Rodney Road, 2.30pm – 3.30pm
• Thursday 21 December, Banwell - Car park opposite the primary school, 3.30pm – 4.30pm

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See Previous:

• NSC Corporate Plan Consultation (OCT23)
• North Somerset Biodiversity Plan Consultation (OCT23)
• Draft Rural Strategy Considerations (NOV23)
• Previous Local Plan Consultation (APR22)
  • and related info
• Current Local Plan Consultation (NOV23)

BPC finally remove sound recording from their 7 cameras around the halls carpark and playground area

WHERE IS ALL THE AGRICULTURE LAND GOING... GOING... GONE?

Public consultation coming soon ... end of October 2023?

Not all farmers are land owners. Those that are not land owers depend on their landlords to continually extend their leases, so that they can continue to farm. The actual land owners could live in the community, another part of the country, even abroad, using the land for investment purposes (e.g. in 2018 Bristol Airport was majority owned by Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Canada!)

See related Biodiversity Net Gain Consultation BOB Blog and 

Draft Rural Strategy Considerations

New Local Plan Consultation 28 Nov 23 (NSC)

Is it North Somerset Council's intention to destroy farming in the district, or is this just an 'error' between different departments? If it is their intention, why not openly and publicly state this in consultations and public information? [NOTE 2]

What is North Somerset Council's plan for agriculture, food production and food security? Where is its Rural Strategy and/or Food Security Plans published? See the live NSC Local Plan discussion and the draft consultation, that went for approval 18OCT23. On a positive note - Some previous feedback has been taken into consideration with regards draft DP7 solar proposal as seen amended here- so it's worth continuing to submit your feedback on these policies, especially if you wish to continue to support local meat, dairy, fruit, veg, beer and wine produce. (Mendip Times Food & Drink Golden Triangle OCT23)

Gloucestershire "County at risk of becoming ‘Solarshire’ due to number of photovoltaic panels planned... if they are all approved it could create a corridor of one million solar panels... The new Local Plan, which is currently being developed, will set out the guidelines for development across the district until 2041, once adopted." (25OCT23)

NSC Renewable and low carbon energy generation webpage, Where is the farming, food production and food security asessed if the land is removed in any way for solar and wind technologies

• Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Arrays (2013.)
  • "3.4 We are not likely to support applications on the highest graded agricultural land (grades 1 or 2) and strongly encourage prospective developments towards the lowest graded land." NB 17% is Grade 1 & 2, 60% is Grade 3 within NSC.
  • ""3.19 Creating habitats rich in wildflowers with apiculture as part of the permanent management plan (to increase bee numbers to the benefit of surrounding farmlands)." How is NSC protecting existing food production and food security? How is it ensuring that the 'surrounding farmlands' are surviving and not being encouraged to diversify, or close due to a lack of available tenancies or appropriate grade or sized farmland?
  • "4.6 Solar PV facilities that are developed on agricultural ground must be ‘reversible’ allowing the site to be easily restored to agriculture. Hence intrusive groundworks, such as trenching and foundations should be minimised and the use of concrete avoided where possible. Frames should be pile driven or screw anchored and not concrete-based, and capable of easy removal, allowing the ground to be fully restored. In windy areas the stability of the installation will need to be considered."
  • "4.14 In most instances the ground beneath solar panels is capable of remaining in agricultural use. Existing pasture cover should be maintained, whilst if the land is currently arable, applicants are advised to grass-seed the site. The land will require management, and the preferred option is that sheep grazing or similar should be enabled. If the grass is to be mown, then the potential for habitat gain, through wildflowerseeding, should be considered"
• Regen SW assessment potential areas for large scale wind turbines
  • Bleadon Levels
• Resource assessment for wind and solar in North Somerset and opportunities to support the wider sustainable energy sector (2013)
  • "Agricultural land grades 1 and 2 excluded Grades 1 and 2 are the best and most versatile for food production."

The UK government states, "... food security means strong and consistent domestic production of food combined with a diversity of supply sources that avoids overreliance on any one source... Home-grown produce is the largest source of food for the UK... In meat, milk, and eggs, the UK produces roughly equivalent volume to what it consumes. In 2020 it produced 61kg of meat, 227L of milk and 172 eggs per person per year ... The UK produces a significant proportion of its other crop needs, including around 60% of sugar beet, 70% of potatoes and 80% of oilseeds... The UK produces over 50% of vegetables consumed domestically, but only 16% of fruit." (05OCT23).

In order to be food secure, it appears that the UK cannot afford to lose any agriculture land and indeed needs to increase vegetable and fruit production.

The govt Food Security 2.4 "Food security is one of the thirteen sectors listed in the Government’s “Critical National Infrastructure” (CNI) document: CNI are “necessary for a country to function and upon which daily life depends”. [NOTE 2] (28JUL23)

Bleadon is calling a public meeting re: local plan and resident concerns, come along before putting in a response to consultation. 

Previous Local Plan Consultation information

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See also:

• NSC Corporate Plan Consultation closed on 16 Oct 23, yet there was no mention of farming. However, it did note on p14,
  • “Quality and affordable new homes will be being built on the council’s own land with infrastructure projects underway to unlock further delivery.” Is NSC selling off farmland? How much has it sold over the last 5-10 years? How does this help future generaƟons of agriculture within North Somerset, and young peoples’ career choices? How does this fit with any ‘duties’ for local food production and delivery nationally? How does this fit with NSC Local Plan re: solar, wind, housing and road network development in general?"

• NSC Biodiversity Consultation (Blog)
• NSC Rural Strategy (to come?)
• NSC Green Infrastructure Plan (BOB Blog)
• NSC Empowering Communities Strategy v2 and Action Plan LR (PDF)
• NSC Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy HWBS action plan (PDF)
• NSC Local Plan Consultation (Blog)

• Previous consultations

NOTE 1:

The draft consultation, that went for approval 18OCT23, states,

• Draft pg 198 onwards, indicate that many farm addresses are listed for development.
• "Proposals for wind turbines and solar photovoltaic arrays will be supported in principle within the Search Areas shown … and the proposed site is not within (land) grades 1, 2 or 3a" (05FEB21))
• Draft pg 184 states, "Farmers are encouraged to diversify their activities and supplement their income from enterprises other than normal food production."
• Draft pg 186 states, "Planning permission will be granted... provided that... In the case of diversification proposals, there is sufficient certainty of long term benefit to the farm business as an agricultural operation... Farm diversification activities can contribute to the local economy by providing opportunities for employment or recreation for residents and visitors and by resulting in increased patronage for local shops and services."
• Draft pg 190 states, "The conversion or re-use of rural buildings will be permitted providing that... It would not have a significant adverse effect on the living conditions of adjoining occupiers or adversely affect the operation of working farms... Retailing will not be permitted, other than farm shops, small scale village stores, proposals under 200m2 square metres or proposals that are ancillary to the main use. If the building was completed within 10 years of the application being submitted for an agricultural or equestrian use the applicant will need to demonstrate that the conversion of this building is essential for the long-term benefit of the associated agricultural/ forestry/equestrian operation "
• Draft pg 195 states, "Proposals for new or extended touring and static caravan outside the Green Belt and AONB will be permitted provided that... All visitor accommodation should: • Not have a significant adverse effect on the living conditions of adjoining occupiers or adversely affect the operation of working farms"

NOTE 2:

• 10 National Protective Security Agency, Critical National Infrastructure, accessed on 11 July 2023
  • "Critical National Infrastructure National Infrastructure are those facilities, systems, sites, information, people, networks and processes, necessary for a country to function and upon which daily life depends. It also includes some functions, sites and organisations which are not critical to the maintenance of essential services, but which need protection due to the potential danger to the public (civil nuclear and chemical sites for example)... there are 13 national infrastructure sectors:... Food... Water"

• 11 Defra is the lead Government department on food supply [PQ51874 28 September 2021] (PDF), although the UKFSR states that “the role of government is an indirect one; to plan for and coordinate responses and intervene only where necessary to ensure the continuity of supply” given that the “underlying infrastructure of the supply chain is owned and operated by private industry” [Defra, United Kingdom Food Security Report 2021: Theme 3: Food Supply Chain Resilience, updated 22 December 2021 - 05OCT23] So how is NSC food security addressed in its Local Plan?

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) policy set out under the Environment Act 2021 is due to come into force in January 2024. Most planning applications will be required to demonstrate that biodiversity net gain of 10% has been achieved, e.g. by planting trees, wildflower meadows, etc. 

North Somerset Council's (NSC) Corporate Plan, p7 states, "Weston-super-Mare – our largest town is set to become the second biggest settlement in the West of England over the next decade." At the 04 October public meeting in the Town Hall, Cllr Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council, confirmed that this would be second to Bristol! 

How will this huge increase in planned housing/development, with its 'associated nature' offsetting of 10% BNG, affect rural communities? How will this affect farming and food production as landowners are encourgad to diversify from using their land for agriculture to using it for 30 year BNG 'nature' projects?

There is no mention of farming, agriculture or protecting food production in this North Somerset Council Biodiversity consultation, yet our farming is in crisis?

BOB Biodiversity SPD Consultation response

Draft Rural Strategy Considerations

UK Farming Crisis

• "The UK’s self-sufficiency is ‘slipping’, with many growers reporting receiving minuscule return" ... "As NFU president Minette Batters put it in December, the very existence of British food production is now “under threat”
• "A petition calling on retailers to provide a fairer deal to the UK's struggling farmers has reached over 50,000 signatures, but supermarkets are yet to respond." - To Reform the Grocery Supply Code of Practice to better protect farmers (Ends 14MAR24)
• Farming Charity sees Alarming Increase in Calls for Help.- Lincolnshire Rural Support Network says "...many of the calls are related to money and debt. However, the area that has seen the biggest growth – a 229% increase – is stress and mental-health related concerns". (23OCT23)
• Tokenisation of the countryside via Biodiversity Net Gain Credits

• What is NSC doing to protect farming and local food production, is it protecting its farmland or selling it off, e.g. for development? (See land let as smallholdings by local authorities across England)

NO FARMERS NO FOOD - poorer local and national economy

No Land No Food

As meat, dairy and vegetarbles stop being grown locally, increasing food costs, more people will be driven towards food banks. Governments longer term solution, UK insect eating 3D printed food (e.g UN 2013)

What can NSC and its Policies do to HELP small and medium sized local farming and food security?

How has reliance increased on food banks in the UK in the last 5, 10, 20 years as food prices increase? 

• House of Commons 18OCT23, "The Trussell Trust, an anti-poverty charity that operates a network of food banks across the UK, reported a 37% increase in the number of three-day emergency food parcels it distributed between 31 March 2022 and 1 April 2023, compared to the year before. This continues a general trend of increasing need for food parcels. In 2021/22 there was an increase of 14% compared to the year 2019/2020, before the Covid-19 pandemic. The increase in the year 2020/21 was caused by the pandemic, while the most recent increase is due to the cost of living crisis." (Overview and  18OCT23)
• Population Pyramids of the World (e.g. UK, Europe, Africa, Asia, N America, Oceania & World
• How does farming fit with biodiversity plans such as 30 by 30 (or 30x30) a worldwide initiative for governments to designate 30% of Earth's land and ocean area as protected areas by 2030 (.e.g. UK Govt An extraordinary challenge: Restoring 30 per cent of our land and sea by 2030  (26JUL23 - p32)
• How will the control of water affect local farming? (E.g. UK Govt Plan for Water:- 'farm' mentioned over 100 tiimes (04APR23))
• How will SMART meters be used to monitor, restrict and punish farmers and residents to meet these sustainability goals? e.g. Energy firms pay out £11m after not fitting enough smart meters: Have customers had enough? Do they have the powers to forceably install meters to monitor and micro-manage residents? (10NOV23)

What is the role and priorities of North Somerset Council with regards to protecting communities and local food security?

• Does energy security (solar) trump local food security?
• Does nature recovery (e.g. 10% BNG) trunp local food security?
• Does carbon reduction (net zero) trump local food security?
• Does methane and nitrogen reduction (net zero) trump local food security?
• Have any long-term real-world trials or research (decades) been undertaken proving on large scale areas that the BNG approach of people managed land will give the desired output and not invaisive plant species (brambles) and/or increase in vermin (rats)? Or have assumptions been based on scaled up computer modelling?
• Why put solar panels on agricultureal fields at the same time as putting grass on urban roofs?

In order to be food secure, it appears that the UK cannot afford to lose any agriculture land and indeed needs to increase vegetable and fruit production. (See also the NSC Local Plan consultation)

Food Security

• There is no mention of food security in NSC's Biodiversity SPD Overview, only that, "There needs to be security of the delivering for biodiversity offsetting projects. The Environment Act requires that any enhancements or provision are maintained for at least 30 years after the development is completed" (Para 8.2.3 p35)

• The UK government states, "... food security means strong and consistent domestic production of food combined with a diversity of supply sources that avoids overreliance on any one source... Home-grown produce is the largest source of food for the UK... In meat, milk, and eggs, the UK produces roughly equivalent volume to what it consumes. In 2020 it produced 61kg of meat, 227L of milk and 172 eggs per person per year ... The UK produces a significant proportion of its other crop needs, including around 60% of sugar beet, 70% of potatoes and 80% of oilseeds... The UK produces over 50% of vegetables consumed domestically, but only 16% of fruit." (05OCT23).

UK Govt Powering Up Britain Energy Security Plan,

• "The Government seeks large scale ground-mount solar deployment across the UK, across the UK, looking for development mainly on brownfield, industrial and low and medium grade agricultural land. Solar and farming can be complementary, supporting each other financially, environmentally and through shared use of land. We consider that meeting energy security and climate change goals is urgent and of critical importance to the country, and that these goals can be achieved together with maintaining food security for the UK. We encourage deployment of solar technology that delivers environmental benefits, with consideration for ongoing food production or environmental improvement. The Government will therefore not be making changes to categories of agricultural land in ways that might constrain solar deployment." (p38) [Reference to grades 1, 2 or 3a and mapping e.g. for NSC] and...
• "We encourage deployment of solar technology that delivers environmental benefits, with consideration for ongoing food production or environmental improvement." pg38 (MAR23)

Environment Act 2021 (10NOV23)

• "1(3) The regulations may specify a commodity only if the Secretary of State considers that forest is being or may be converted to agricultural use for the purposes of producing the commodity." (p291)
• "2(5) The regulations may specify a local law only if it relates to the prevention of forest being converted to agricultural use" (p292)
• "17(2) A review must consider in particular— (a) the amount of forest being converted to agricultural use for the purposes of producing commodities (p299)
• "17(2)(b) the impact of the relevant provisions on the amount of forest being converted to agricultural use for the purposes of producing forest risk commodities" (p300)

What is the food chain losing by the proposed NSC plans?

• What is the land currently contributing to food security?
• DP53 Best & Most versitile land in Draft pg 181 "The proportion of Grade 1 land in North Somerset is approximately 7% and 10% for Grade 2. 60% falls in Grade 3..." How much of this land is already in use as food production for people and animals? How much land will be lost if NSC's Local Plan and associated Biodiversity plans happen?
• What arable and/or pastoral farming is currently supported?
• What has been supported over the last 10 years?
• When was the land last producing food for animals or people?
• Can beef and dairy cattle graze the same land as solar panel?
• What will happen to local and national dairy products if the land only supports sheep? (milk, cheese, yoghurt, butter, spreads, etc.)

• How much infrastructure is required to install, support and maintain a field of thousands solar panels?
  • concreting in solar panel supports? electrical wiring? sub-station wiring?  
  • how much does rainwater runoff concentrate on the land? how much erosian over the 25 year life span? How much potential leeching of into the soil?
• Will local generatiional farming skills be lost? What will happen over the 25-40 year lifespan of the solar panels and/or BNG projects?
• who are the mahority of investors in these large local solar and BNG projects? do they have a genuine interest in the local community or is it just a planning obligation and/or financial investment that can ultimately break rural communities?
• how do commercial these investments affect public access and views to the countrysiide?
• how do structures in fields (solar arrays) affect birds of prey hunting, as they need large open areas to swoop and large independent areas to sustain current and future populations. 
• how are small mammals affected - structures will change the balance of that ecology, some mammals will thrive at the expense of others, upsetting the natural balance (e.g. an increase in rat population due to more urban style shelter under solar panels? How would this population be controlled e.g. rat poisons?)
• how do the change in wildflowers, plants, etc. affect the types of species that can then survive in that hababit?
• how will desktop AI deal with the above if no ecologist input is given?
• over 20-40 years lifespan of the panels and BNG projects, how are natural invasive species such as brambles controlled, with chemicals be used? e.g. glyphosate - "a widespread herbicide used by farmers to control weeds and as an alternative to ploughing, which disturbs the life beneath the soil and releases carbon (but has pupport food production locally for generations since the bronze age)"? (14JUN23)
  • if glyphosate is used, along with panel run off, the soil may become contaminated, what will happen to the sheep, lamb that is eaten, and future agricultural use if/when the panels are decommissioned? 
  • how long will the land need to recover after decommisioning? Months, years or decades?
  • what happens to the millions of solar panels afterwards and the toxic chemicals contained within them? "The toxic chemicals in solar panels include cadmium telluride, copper indium selenide, cadmium gallium (di)selenide, copper indium gallium (di)selenide, hexafluoroethane, lead, and polyvinyl fluoride" (30APR18 and 22AUG20)
  • CPRE The problem with solar farms - the factors that should be considered in determining applications (2021)
• if the aim is to increase biodiversity via BNG how does this offset any potential loss of species on the original site, e.g. new structures and/or solar panel installations (whether mammals, insects, plants, etc.)?

NB: NSC support solar and installion companies and so should therefore be able to answer the following questions:(as mailed to residents Resident Letter, Leaflet1, Leaflet2)

North Somerset Council Biodiversity SPD proposal states -

"Biodiversity Net Gain policy set out under the Environment Act 2021 is due to come into force in January 2024. Most planning applications will be required to demonstrate that biodiversity net gain of 10% has been achieved. This will be submitted to the council together with a Biodiversity Gain Plan, as part of the planning application. (Biodiversity SPD Consultation Document) No mention of how this works with agricultrure in the rural community food produciton or security?

 

The current SPD dates back to November 2005 and is therefore in need of a comprehensive update, particularly in light of the council’s 2019 declaration of a Climate Emergency and Nature Emergency in November 2020.

• Benefits of the Biodiversity SPD can include:Helping meet local, national and international nature recovery and climate change commitments

• Delivery of Council priorities around re-wilding and the nature emergency

• Delivery of site enhancements as part of North Somerset Council’s green infrastructure strategy

• Creation of principles and approach for biodiversity offsetting and net gain delivery

• Safeguarding of public access to high quality nature within North Somerset." (Biodiversity Supplementary Overview)

• NB "s. At the very least, all development must deliver a net gain in line with Policy CS4 of the Core Strategy" (p27)

Government Definition of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)

Other related guidance:

• Govt Biodiversity metric: calculate the biodiversity net gain of a project or development (PDF)
• The Biodiversity Metric 4.0 (JP039) (PDF)
• The Small Sites Metric (Biodiversity Metric 4.0) (PDF)
• NSC Biodiversity & Trees Planting including Bleadon List of Wildlife site p11-12 (PDF)

• DEFRA Consultation on Marine Biodiversity Net Gain (2022, privacy, letter)
  • UK pushes protections for international marine biodiversity (20SEP23)
• BNG for Local Authorities including video (02NOV23)

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Public/Business/Charity Webinars:

• Wednesday, 25 October, 1-2pm Creating Biodiversity Corridors Through Our Cities (PDF)
  • NSC plans for the city include green roofs and living walls (p42) but solar panels on green fields in rural areas? 
• Thursday, 26 October, 10-11:30am  Unlock the Hidden Potential of Your Land: Biodiversity Net Gain (PDF)
  • what happens to agricultural inheritence?
  • what if you cannot maintain the land for the full 30 year agreement? e.g. illness, death?
  • does agriculture inherence tax change if the land becomes a BNG project?
  • what are the penalties? who enforces them e.g. NSC Corporate Plan income?

• Monday, 30 October, 12:30-1:30pm Biodiversity Net Gain for Buyers (PDF)
  • Bristol Avon Catchment Market (6 min video)
  • iIs the greatest risk with the landowner/farmer to maintain the land/biodiversity'credt' for 30 yearss at the same or better level? 
  • "If there is failure to deliver, or attempt to deliver, biodiversity net gain outcomes which are secured through planning legal agreements or planning conditions, the Council will take the appropriate and necessary action to ensure compliance." (p37)
• Tuesday, 31 October, 10-11am Innovation Showcase: Tools to Support Biodiversity Net Gain (PDF)
  • what are the dangers of using satellite imagery and remote sensing data interpreted by AI computer modelling rather than using proffessional ecologists and 'ground truth data'? (PDF) 
  • Gentian

How does the UK BNG approach achieve the same goals as the Dutch, Irish and Sri Lankans seen in the documentary above, or reduction of exports due to war, with a resulting local farming crisis and increased suicides?

• E.g. UK farmland voluntarily taken out of production for 30+year, whereas
• the EU approves Dutch plan to forcibly close farms,""Farmers who decide to close their holdings must guarantee they will not start up livestock farming operations elsewhere in the Netherlands or within the EU" (04MAY23) -- Even if their family and or the nation is in a food crisis and potentially starving?
• The Malaysian government banned fertilisers and put the country into poverty, famine and suicides. Fertiliser ban decimates Sri Lankan crops as government popularity ebbs (03MAR22)
• Ukraine Food crisis grows as spiralling prices spark export bans 
  • Palm oil prices soar as Indonesia curbs exports
  • Ukraine bans wide range of agricultural exports "LVIV, Ukraine, March 9 (Reuters) - Ukraine's government has banned exports of rye, barley, buckwheat, millet, sugar, salt, and meat until the end of this year, according to a cabinet resolution published on Wednesday."
  • Serbia bans exports of wheat, corn, flour and cooking oil
  • Yara curtails fertiliser output in Italy and France  (09MAR22)

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See also:

• NSC Green Infrastructure Plan (BOB Blog)
• NSC Empowering Communities Strategy v2 and Action Plan LR (PDF)
• NSC Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy HWBS action plan (PDF)
• NSC Local Plan Consultation (Blog)

LANGFORD

• Plans are advancing to build two mega solar farms at Yanel Farm 66ha (163 acre) and at Honeyhall Farm  67ha (over 165 acres), a total of 133ha (328 acres)
  • NB The total area of NSC smallholdings land as at 31 March 2022 amounts to 166ha (410 acres). Do these two Langford solar developments alone cover nearly the equivalent of the whole of NSC held farmland, i.e. 133ha Langford solar developments vs 166ha NSC smallholdings?
  • What stops the remaining NSC farmland also be built on?
  • Has any NSC farmland been indentified to be built on in the NSC Local Plan (e.g. pink/solar, yellow, redorange & orange/wind or red/housing mapped area)?
  • Compare with 333ha in 2007, a halving of the total NSC farmland in 15 years?  (NSC Smalholdings/Farmland Summary info)
  • How is this protecting local food security and future food production/farming?
  • If the proposed Local Plan go through, will the whole of this area in pink below potentially be solar?
    • "Local Plans, prepared by a local planning authority in consultation with its community, set out a vision and a framework for the future development of an area. Once in place, Local Plans become part of the statutory development plan. The statutory development plan for the area is the starting point for determining local planning applications." 
    • Does this mean that residents are less able/unable to overturn any solar, wind, housing, etc. planning application, as potentially no appeal will be held as it has already been agreed in NSC's Local Plan? (PDF)
• Solar Company Food Security Argument (SEP22)
• NSC Local Plan mapping shows Solar, wind, housing,etc but NO food layered interactive map? See Govt suggested base mapping post-1988 and NSC base mapping vs NSC Food Growing map from its NSC Green Infrastructure Strategy (p126)

• Langford Yanel & Honeyhall Solar Farms

• Combined Mega Solar Farm Applications NSC Planning Mapping Tick boxes on left of NSC app

  NSC Solar, wind & housing Local Plan NSC Local Plan Mapping Tick boxes on left of NSC app

•  
• 22/P/1450/FUL - Proposed development of a 49.9MW solar farm and associated infrastructure. | Land At Yanel Farm Churchill Green Churchill North Somerset Consultation Deadline Thu 25 Aug 2022.
• Developer Website states, "The site covers 66 hectares of land classified as lower grade agricultural land (3b and 4) and is suitable for sheep farming" (PDF)
• Natural England BNG Related Response (27AR23)
• Yanel Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
• 23/P/2159/FUL - Honeyhall Solar Farm - Proposed Installation and operation of a renewable energy generating station comprising ground-mounted photovoltaic solar arrays and battery-based electricity storage containers together with a switchgear container, inverter/transformer units, a substation, site access, internal access tracks, security measures, access gates, other ancillary infrastructure and landscaping and biodiversity enhancements, with a widened gated access at the junction of Brinsea Green Farm and Brinsea Lane. | Land At Brinsea Green Farm Brinsea Lane Congresbury Consultation Deadline Thu 23 Nov 2023 Biodiversity Enhancement Plan - aka very large glass fields with planted margins
• Large solar farm over 165 acres (67ha) of farmland (Honeyhall Solar Farm (SEP23 & 02NOV23)
• Developer Website.(PDF)
• 
• (enlarged image and very large pdf detailed file 6MB)
•  
• CPRE The problem with solar farms - the factors that should be considered in determining applications (2021)

Gloucesterhire County at risk of becoming ‘Solarshire’ due to number of photovoltaic panels  (25OCT23)

• "The Forest of Dean District Council has been approving plans for solar farms on a case by case basis. But there has been an accumulation of planning applications to develop such sites on fields either side of the B4215 road between Newent and Highnam. And if they are all approved it could create a corridor of one million solar panels ...
• During the meeting, the council agreed to prepare a draft Local Plan based on their new strategy for future approval and consultation in 2024."
• Previous consultations

Land let as smallholdings by local authorities across England

• NSC land included in 72nd annual report to Parliament on smallholdings in England, 1 April 2021 to 31 7 March 2022 26JUL23, 71st 2020-21  & 07SEP23 amendments, 64th & 2013/14, 61st in 2010/11, 60th in 2009-10, 57th in 2006/7, 
• Hansard Farm Summary 2006-7, and Hansard Small Holdings Colonies  Volume 30: debated on Tuesday 4 June 1918
• DEFRA Land Ownership & Tenure (09NOV23)

WHERE IS ALL THE AGRICULTURE LAND GOING... GOING... GONE?

Consultation Deadline 16 October 2023 at 5pm.

BOB Corporate Plan Consultation Response 

New NSC Corporate Plan & Budget Consultation (NSC)

NSC Corporate Plan Action Plan Consultation

Visit a public CONSULTATION MEETING this week only

ask North Somerset leaders about farming, food production, food security and cash

Public Meetings in buildings and mobile libraries:

"The leader of the council Mike Bell, and the Deputy Leader Catherine Gibbons, will be hosting a number of public engagement sessions throughout September and October to talk about the Corporate Plan and budget. No need to book, please just drop by.

• Wednesday 20 September, Tithe Barn, Nailsea, 6.30pm onwards
• Monday 25 September, Weston Museum, 6.00pm onwards
• Wednesday 27 September, Folk Hall, Portishead, 6.30pm onwards
• Monday 2 October, Hangstones Pavilion, Yatton, 6.00pm onwards
• Wednesday 4 October, Town Hall, Weston, 6.00pm onwards
  • p7 Corporate Plan "Weston-super-Mare – our largest town is set to become the second biggest settlement in the West of England over the next decade." At this meeting Cllr Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council, confirmed that this would be second to Bristol!
• Monday 9 October, Castlewood, Clevedon, 6.30pm onwards

Executive members will also be joining our mobile libraries in October on the following dates to meet with residents and talk through issues and ideas. They will also have paper copies of the engagement survey if you would like one. No need to book, just turn up!

• Wednesday 11 October, Winford - Main Layby, 11:35am - 12.20pm
• Thursday 12 October, Banwell - Car park opposite the primary school, 2.40pm – 4.30pm
• Friday 13 October, Long Ashton – Community Centre car park, 9.30am – 11.30am"

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See also:

• Net Zero Eating - forcing farmers off the land
• NSC draft Local Plan
• NSC Active Travel - NSC LIveable Neighbourhoods
• Rural Lanes
• Farmers Protection Dropped

• Previous consultations

The number 50 bus, through Bleadon Village, will no longer be operating from the end of August

North Somerset Council state that, "Although the number 50 will no longer be operating from the end of August, most communities it served will continue to benefit from a new seamless replacement commercial service. For those communities who no longer have a regular bus service, WESTlink, the demand responsive transport is available." (NSC and PDF)

Although North Somerset Council are responsible for buses, you can also discuss this with your local councillors, e.g. via the parish council clerk.

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See also:

• BleadonBOB Travel Page

Bleadon Parish Council indicates that it failed in 7 out of 9 areas of governance last year, along with 9 independently assessed internal controls, as revealed in its current 2022-23 Annual Governance & Accountability Return (AGAR)

The current 2022-23 AGAR Return follows the previous two years, where Bleadon Parish Council (BPC) told residents to take their concerns to the External Auditor via AGAR, rather than answer their questions. BPC’s previous lack of openness and transparency cost the council over £10K, with at least 15 resident concerns being wholly or partially upheld, including those relating to non-compliance with regulations and lack of best practice.

So how did the £10K external audit processes, and Auditors reports of 2021 and 2022, benefit residents? …. we should now get everything we should have had in the first place!! This includes:

• Better governance and financial compliance
• Increased best practice.
• Greater openness, transparency and timely access to information.
  • Agenda that automatically contain all agenda related non-confidential documentation in the appendices.
  • Including documentation on decision making and spending on working groups, contracts, budgets, trusts, assets and reserves.
• The Coronation Halls, with a stated insurance value of £1million, are now back in trust after mysteriously being logged on the council’s own Asset Register for a few years! (and 2020)
• The External Auditor also confirmed that if independent groups request public money from BPC, like the Playground Trust, Bleadon in Bloom Project, Halls Trust and Youth Club Trust, they should apply via the formal more transparent grant process, as all other groups are requested to do.

Residents will have to wait until next summer’s 2024 AGAR to see if the new councillors, elected since May 23, along with a new clerk (qualified or otherwise), will officially do any better.

In the meantime, if you want to see documents and invoices relating to expenditure and activities for Apr22-Mar23, contact BPC's locum clerk before Friday 04 August 2023, more info here.

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See also:

• Other parish councils
  • Weasenham Parish Council (PDF)
  • "Dogged resident whose constant criticism of local council sparked mass resignation declares himself vindicated as 27 of his 31 complaints are upheld David Fairchild spent five years going over Weasenham Parish Council's returns His investigations saw £15,000 of local taxpayers' money being spent on audits"

• Nationally - Seventh Annual Report of the Chair of the Committee of Public Accounts Second Special Report of Session 2022–23 (PDF)
  • "Government’s annual reports and accounts estimate fraud against the taxpayer rose from £5.5 billion in total over the two years before the pandemic (2018–20) to £21 billion in total over the two years since the start of the pandemic (2020–22).Departments have a duty to recover taxpayer money lost to fraud and error and prevent it in the future".

Previous Bleadon Accountability Statement AGAR Guide (AUG23)

External Audit Challenges (2020-2022)

2023

• When the Going Gets Tough
• Could Do Better D Minus
• BPC Reserves Currently at £37K - incl audio

2022

• Proposed Budget Version 1 Rejected
• How much Bleadon money will the council give itself this time
• What a Bleadon Waste - incl audio
• Bleadon Accountability Statement AGAR Guide
• Bleadon Parish Council Precept Setting
• What did Bleadon Parish Council Spend Half a Million On

The AGAR process ensures that all councillors’ are held accountable for their agreed decisions. Also, that all associated income and expenditure has been properly recorded and related documentation has been made accessible to members of the public to view.

For Bleadon the viewing period for Bleadon residents ends Friday 04 August 2023

Every year parish councils submit a statement (aka AGAR) to an External Auditor. How can the officially signed Annual Governance and Accountability Return help members of the public view the records? What documents are available to view?

The BPC AGAR Notice (pg1) gives council contact details and states, “Any person interested has the right to inspect and make copies of 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 must be made available for inspection by any person interested”. 

The Right to Inspect the council’s records is enshrined in law (AGAR Notice pg2). "If any concerns remain after the Council has responded to queries, electors may wish to consider raising objections to the AGAR with the appointed auditor" See the last two year's challenges to External Audit and the postiive outcomes that can result.

SOME AGAR RELATED DOCUMENTS EXPLAINED

See also:

Previous Bleadon Accountability Statement AGAR Guide (AUG22)

External Audit Challenges (2020-2022)

2023

• When the Going Gets Tough
• Could Do Better D Minus
• BPC Reserves Currently at £37K - incl audio

2022

• Proposed Budget Version 1 Rejected
• How much Bleadon money will the council give itself this time
• What a Bleadon Waste - incl audio
• Bleadon Accountability Statement AGAR Guide
• Bleadon Parish Council Precept Setting
• What did Bleadon Parish Council Spend Half a Million On

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Bleadon’s Annual Parish Meeting is this Friday, 28 April 2023, 7pm at Bleadon Village Hall.

This isn’t another potentially boring council meeting - although chaired by the council’s chairman, it’s the RESIDENT’S OPPORTUNITY to openly discuss anything that affects the parish in an open forum, whether it’s something you like or dislike.

Many things have happened over the last year from BPC projects like the Queen’s Jubilee events, playground remodelling & Bleadon in Bloom, to the resignation of 5 parish councillors, the clerk and the newsletter editor.

There has been BPC precept & budget setting and resident AGAR challenge questions upheld by the External Auditor.

Also, local planning applications such as 36 units at the Riverside Caravan Park, 14 dwellings at Purn Way and 33 dwellings on Bleadon Hill opposite Hillcote. There have been North Somerset consultations on its Local Plan 2038, solar panels, roads & electric vehicles and the end of Bleadon’s Neighbourhood Development Plan.

So, come along and have your say and meet your new parish councillors for 2023 onwards.

Also see BOB's draft notes of the meeting and BPC's draft "Minutes ... prepared retrospectively by Liz Shayler (Locum Parish Clerk) in April 2023 in conjunction with Councillors and Members of the public present due to the absence of minutes for 2022" and Agenda.

Previous Residents Meetings:

◦ 11Apr 2022

◦ 12 Apr 2021

◦ Apr 2020 – No meeting held due to COVID19 Pandemic Policies

◦ 08 Apr 2019

◦ 09 Apr 2018