Your letters on King’s Lynn library, ‘overcrowded’ Hunstanton, lost dogs and solar farms
Here are the Lynn News letters from this Tuesday, September 12, 2023...
He should research rather than object with ignorance
Reading Friday's Lynn News regarding the current leader of West Norfolk Council's comments on solar farms, I'm surprised, indeed somewhat shocked, that Terry Parish didn't even mention agri-voltaics or 'agri-solar'.
Agrisolar, or dual-use solar, is the simultaneous use of areas of land for both solar panels and agriculture. Because solar panels and crops must share the sunlight, the design of agrivoltaic facilities may require trading off such objectives as optimising crop yield, crop quality, and energy production.
In some cases crop yield increases due to the shade of the solar panels mitigating some of the stress on plants caused by high temperatures and UV damage.
Perhaps the easiest use of agriculture and solar is allowing sheep to graze under solar panels. The sheep control vegetation, which would otherwise shade the solar and reduce output.
Sheep even do a more thorough job than lawnmowers as they can reach around the legs of the structures.
In return, sheep or goats receive forage and a shady place to rest. Sheep may be cheaper than mowing.
In general PV system operators pay shepherds to transport sheep. Experimental sheep agrivoltaics found lower herbage mass available in solar pastures was offset by higher forage quality, resulting in similar spring lamb production to open pastures.
Agrivoltaics also can be used to shade cows. Solar grazing is extremely popular in the USA and an organisation has formed to support it.
Seeing wild meadows alive with bees and all other insects surely must be more beneficial than what we have in my locality. The fields may be plentiful, but due to modern farming practices, the soil is devoid of any life. No insects, no bees, no hedgerows. Just acre after acre of beans that are exported to Egypt.
So whilst crops can wither and reduce yield in searing sun and intense heat which we are told we will be seeing a lot more of, solar panels, well placed and serving a dual purpose, not only increase yield but protect the soil.
Agri solar in the Netherlands takes on different forms by placing panels vertically, just like a fence.
It takes up much less space and each row is less than 25cm wide. Solar fences can also be used on perimeter fencing.
So instead of dismissing something outright, maybe our council leader could actually conduct a little research, discover what is available and work towards an amicable position with developers rather than an outright ignorant objection.
He will not need reminding of this summer's climate-related fires, floods and super storms which can all be avoided going forward if we had the renewable capacity that matched the ambition of those members of the public who really don't mind seeing the solutions in their own backyard!
Kevin Holland
MD, The Solar Shed Ltd, Magdalen
I’d do it all again for I love dogs
I would like, through the columns of The Lynn News, to offer a big thank you to a cleaning lady, Norfolk Police, Penny of Hunstanton Library and all the staff at Coastal Vets Snettisham for their display of human kindness.
Around midday on Friday, I was returning from a walk with Ozzie, a greyhound whom I babysat for my neighbour, when I witnessed two toy dogs following us.
Thinking the owner would appear soon, I walked on when suddenly a lady who cleans flats asked if I knew who owned the dogs, one of which ran off.
Between the two of us, we managed to find the remaining dog’s name and contact number from her collar. I called the number and left the reason for my call and contact details. I was taking her home with me. I called 101 asking for advice, which was to take the dog to a vet. My car was located outside Hunstanton Libary, and as I was holding the dog, I asked Penny, the duty librarian, if she would open my car door for me, which she did. They scanned her for a chip at Coastal Vets and relocated her with the owner.
After arriving home, I received a very ungrateful phone call from the dog's owner. But that's life! Me? I would do it all again, for I love dogs.
John White
Hunstanton
Her letter should act as a wake-up call
The Friday letter from Carol Drapper noting the general scruffy decline of Lynn town centre into a characterless urban 'dirty smelly mess' might seem harsh but those of us able to recall the past days of packed streets, cattle markets and a vibrant Norfolk atmosphere will know what she's talking about.
Sadly, the real point of her letter was the likely fate of the old Carnegie Library if the soulless council bean counters have their way and close it down. It'll become another redundant dowdy pigeon-poo-splattered shrine to their careless disinterest in the town's heritage, character, and street scenes. Also, in Friday's edition, we saw (yet again) the old pigeon poo-splattered Post Office building highlighted and the subject of more hapless handwringing by council officials who seem impotent and powerless to put any pressure on the owners to take responsibility for the tatty eyesore they've inflicted on the people of Lynn every day for the past 20 years.
The Carnegie Library is in danger of being added to the list of Lynn's 'problem buildings' if its primary function as a library is taken from it. We've been promised action and delivery from the fresh new West Norfolk Council, and we wait to see whether these mooted new beginnings have any substance or is simply shallow empty rhetoric. Carol Drapper's letter should be a wake-up call for everyone with an interest in Lynn's past, present and its future.
Steve Mackinder
Denver
I holidayed in the town and it is overcrowded
I have just returned from a short break to Hunstanton and returned refreshed, especially with an unseasonal heatwave.
It was the first week out of peak season, yet admittedly the hot weather attracted day trippers, to do a balancing act. However there is a continuing upwards trend of an overcrowded town!
This was noticeable through traffic congestion, parking difficulties and queues for all the facilities.
My concerns were compounded through the report in Lynn News on September 5 under the heading, 'Approval given for 160 homes on the coast'.
There is simply not enough room to accommodate this with an already squeezed infrastructure.
Which planet are these councillors living on?
The developers exacerbate matters with an obsession over money.
The opening paragraph of the report laid emphasis on fears that there are not enough doctors to cope with the increased demand.
It stands to reason that given the older ages of the new residents, it will exacerbate the need for health care.
The overall picture hasn't been addressed over municipal incompetence and the sectional interest of builders.
Surely a comprehensive site visit by councillors taking advice from parties who have expertise they manifestly lack would have procured a 'no go' area.
The bottom line is that we have a population crisis of which Hunstanton has taken a disproportionate share hitherto.
David Fleming
Downham
