Conisbrough protest group keeps up pressure against Whitestone proposals

Campaigners battling the Whitestone solar farm proposals have organised a community walk to demonstrated solidarity against the plans.

The plan would involve installing solar panels - and ancillary equipment - across large tracts of green field land in Rotherham and Doncaster.

Whitestone have already reduced the scale of their scheme following public consultations but campaigners believe it is still too dominant.

Now the Save Our Greenbelt - Conisbrough Parks group have organised a walk on Saturday September 5.

Those attending are asked to meet at Park Lane, Sheffield Road, Conisbrough at 11am, with off-road parking available for those arriving by car.

The walk has been planned as a family-friendly event, with organisers suggesting families attend, take a picnic and even turn up in fancy dress.

Conisbrough Parks is regarded as historically important, with archaeological evidence of human activity in the area covering the Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman and medieval eras.

Group secretary Philip Knight said: “We want as many people as possible to come along.

“You don’t have to walk the whole route - or even walk at all.

“Come and see everyone set off, bring a picnic and show your support.

“We want Whitestone and, importantly, the Planning Inspectorate, to see for themselves the strength of feeling within our communities.

“This countryside is part of our heritage and our community.

“Once a landscape like this is fundamentally changed, future generations don’t get the opportunity to make that decision again.

“We want people to be able to say that when it mattered, they stood up for it.”

The deadline for people to register with the Planning Inspectorate and make representations about the planning application has been extended to the end of September 11, for technical reasons.

Help will be available at the walk for those wanting to register and make points to the Inspectorate, which will decide on whether the application can proceed.

The scheme is so large, the decision-making process will rest with the Government, rather than being decided by local authorities in the usual way.

MPs with constituencies affected by the proposals have raised concerns about the proposals.

Major solar schemes are considered an important element in leading the UK towards ‘net zero’ energy production, however.