A councillor is calling for public meetings in two East Yorkshire villages which will be impacted by a huge solar farm – saying most residents are “blissfully unaware”.

Clean Air Solar is proposing to hold consultation events in Beverley, Lockington, Walkington and Little Weighton, but not in Cottingham or Skidby.

Lib Dem councillor Phil Redshaw said: “I am frankly outraged that, for a development of this magnitude, residents in Cottingham and Skidby are being denied the simple opportunity to attend a public meeting in their own communities.

“We are looking at up to 700 shipping-container-sized, 20-foot battery storage units just north of Cottingham, above the chalk aquifer that supplies drinking water to the region.

Clean Air Solar’s project – East Yorkshire’s fourth “mega” solar farm, is divided into two areas. The southern covers farmland close to the grid connection with the new Wanlass Beck substation, which is an extension to Creyke Beck sub station, southwest of Beverley, and comes with a Battery Energy Storage System. The northern near Hutton Cranswick was consulted on as Kingfisher Solar last year.

placeholder image — Clean Air Solar’s project – East Yorkshire’s fourth “mega” solar farm, is divided into two areas. The southern covers farmland close to the grid connection with the new Wanlass Beck substation, which is an extension to Creyke Beck sub station, southwest of Beverley, and comes with a Battery Energy Storage System. The northern near Hutton Cranswick was consulted on as Kingfisher Solar last year.

“Serious questions need answering about fire safety, potential contamination of water supplies and flood risk.

"Developers say local bus connections justify the meeting location, but that ignores the limited services and the practical difficulties people face getting there and home again.

"Online webinars and consultation documents are not an adequate substitute."

The 500MW project is in two parts, totalling 2,851 acres – roughly double the size of Beverley. Two other large farms have already been approved by Labour Ministers in East Yorkshire.

Clean Air Solar is sending nearly 31,000 leaflets to households, including in Cottingham. They said they wanted to provide “meaningful, proportionate and accessible” consultation. People will be able to engage online and information will be made available at locations, including in Cottingham and Skidby.

Options for where the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) will go would be released at the consultation, on the back of extensive environmental and technical surveys.

A spokesperson said: “Additionally, we will be bringing technical BESS experts to our in-person events and will host a webinar on BESS to answer questions.”