Page 20 - Oundle Life June 2023

OPEN GARDENS
Raising funds for Staunch
The STAUNCH Campaign aims to protect
the village of Titchmarsh and the Upper Nene valley from potential catastrophic industrial development. In 2019 two large sites on the edge of the village of Titchmarsh were targeted by developers. Their plans are to build logistic centres and warehouses on greenfield farmland.
The first site, known as the Glebe Land,
covers approximately 144 acres. The Diocese of Peterborough sold a 10-year development option to IM Properties in early 2021 – one of the UK’s largest privately-owned investor developers.
The second site, known locally as Castle Manor Farm, is being managed by Newlands Developments. This massive 175-acre plot could soon be the site of 4 new warehouses standing almost 90 feet high.
An active campaign to fend off both developments is currently underway.
The proposed plans are so huge they threaten the way of life for everyone in the Upper Nene Valley. The developers aim to carve up hundreds of acres of green farmland and replace it with warehouses for as far as the eye can see. This is no idle overstatement. Some of the proposed structures will be seen on the horizon for miles.
More than this, however, is the potential to flood our local roads with huge new numbers of
HGVs. The A605 is already congested, and the addition of several purpose-built logistics sites is only going to make matters worse.
In 2022 Elgin Energy Esco Ltd submitted a plan to create a 49.9 megawatt (MW) solar farm on 154 acres of land at Foxholes Farm situated a mile to the east of Titchmarsh, off part of the old Roman Road between Titchmarsh and Clopton. The Merchant Venturers who own the land also own much of the land in this area.
STAUNCH would like to state from the outset that, as a group, in principle they are
in favour of renewable energy. However, the group believes that all such schemes should be considered on the basis that they are appropriate and proportionate for the environment into which it is intended to site them.
If all 3 developments go ahead Titchmarsh Parish will lose 20% of its agricultural land.
Support us by coming along to Titchmarsh Open Gardens on Sun 18th June 11am -4pm where you can have a relaxing afternoon, enjoy refreshments, and help raise funds for the campaign.
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For more information go to:
www.staunchcampaign.org