Retired couple ‘devastated’ by solar farm plans

A couple said plans that would leave their rural retirement cottage “surrounded by 15ft (4.5m) solar panels” were “devastating”. Mandy Goodhand and Stevie Johnson-Mansley bought their cottage in rural Lincolnshire in 2020 to renovate and retire to. However, three years later they received a “knock on the door” from a local farmer to inform them … Read more

Plans to build lithium battery facility rejected

Plans to build a lithium battery storage facility in East Devon have been rejected. Clearstone Energy had asked for permission to build and operate the battery energy storage system (BESS) south of Hazelhurst Raymonds Hill in Axminster. However, planners at East Devon District Council rejected the scheme after a three-and-a-half hour debate which saw residents … Read more

Use our water supply wisely’

Maynard Cousley, Water Supply Senior Manager with NI Water, said Northern Ireland has experienced a winter and spring with “less than average rainfall”. He said rain in mid-April has brought reservoir levels back up and the overall storage is now sitting at 88% capacity, but with the Met Office forecasting dry and reasonably warm weather … Read more