Save Dent Fell
A group has been formed to save Dent Fell, after shocking revelations about plans to build one of the UK’s largest solar parks in the foothills of Dent stunned Cumberland residents.
The Save Dent Fell group have already held their first meeting, with hundreds of people pledging their support on social media.
The group are clear that they aren’t against solar or any other form of renewable energy — but they want to save Dent Fell for future generations.
The plans from Bristol-based Belltown Power for a 200 acre site, visible for miles around, were first unveiled last week. A brief consultation has been launched, with the developers’ plans expected to go before council planners as early as May.
Spokesman Dan Shutt said: “We are just local people, ordinary mams and dads who have grown up loving that landscape, and we want to preserve it for our children and theirs.
“We’re not against solar — not at all — but there are lots of places they could put a solar park if we are so desperate for solar energy. Brownfield sites like industrial estates and car parks are surely better options than blighting the landscape that we’ve grown up with?
“This site would be massive — 200 acres. I know that will be just numbers to some people, but to give you some context, that’s roughly 113 football pitches. It will be absolutely massive, and you’ll see it for miles around.
“Dent Fell has been the backdrop to our towns and villages forever. It is a treasured part of the Lakeland landscape and we must protect it.”
Anyone interested in supporting the group can find Save Dent Fell on Facebook, and they are encouraging the local community to attend Belltown’s consultation evening on Thursday 3rd of April, and to contact their local councillors and MP.
Dan added: “The plans have already been drawn up and published in detail on their website, so the consultation might seem like it’s all decided. What we hope is that if enough local people let them know how we feel, they might think again.”
You can follow us on Facebook at Save Dent Fell.
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I was born under Dent. I have lived looking out on our gorgeous little fell for 32 years now. I would be heartbroken to see it covered in solar panels. I can’t think of anyone wanting to see that.
There are so many people that live around this fell and would not want to see it defaced.
Surely there are fells that are not beauty spots that people see from their homes that could house solar panels.
Please leave our fell alone.
Net zero is a joke. We as a country produce less than 1% of global emissions . Never hear about china building lots of coal power stations every month . Don’t be fooled by the line that after 40 years it will go to greenfield again , it won’t magically it will then be classified as brown field .Concrete bases mean can’t plough it again .Panels if you lucky last 25 years and can’t be recycled as have toxics in them, plus they made in china .