Watch the moment furious locals erupted mid-meeting after a local council refused to bin off a “disgusting” net zero project in the heart of Kent.
Since 2024, residents in the village of New Ash Green and Ridley have been locked in combat with Sevenoaks District Council over plans to rip up 235 acres of agricultural land to make way for a horde of solar panels – booting out a tenant farmer in the process.
On Thursday evening, a local meeting to decide the fate of the New Ash Green solar project was consequently disturbed by locals enraged by the authority’s refusal to block the application.
For months now, the “NO New Ash Green Solar” campaign, headed up by leader Peter Tasker, has campaigned against the project seeking to shred a “unique” part of the English countryside, which sits atop an aquifer delivering water to thousands across Kent.
The individuals have repeatedly stressed concerns over the project’s impact on the local community, from its potential detrimental impact on local water quality to the site becoming an uncontrolled fire hazard.
As a result, councillors’ refusal to throw out the planning application stirred up fervent fury in the local chamber, with residents unsettling the debate with their uproar.
During the meeting, some raucous grumbling and swearing could be heard while the councillor gave a concluding remark, with a man shouting: “Disgusting!”
“Shame on you!”, another woman could be heard exclaiming, all the way from the spectator gallery, while another man demanded “silence upstairs”.
The meeting took place on Thursday evening
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SEVENOAKS DISTRICT COUNCIL
The councillor in question was suitably perturbed by the disturbance, but soon was put back on track with a colleague who reminded him the discussion centred on the economic impact of the application.
But the meeting’s disruption has just been one indicator of the discontent simmering amongst disgruntled locals.
Despite the authority looking to cool concerns, Mr Tasker told GB News his campaign’s concern over the destruction to the ancient woodland.
He added if there was a fire, which was not unknown to such construction, the smoke would damage the surrounding area, including that same ancient woodland which was beloved by local residents – and their pooches.
Sevenoaks District Council’s outline of the affected land
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SEVENOAKS DISTRICT COUNCIL
Around 45 per cent of the world’s solar-grade polysilicon – which is used in 95 per cent of all panels – is made in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
As such, Tonbridge MP Tom Tugendhat has spoken out against applicant Evolution Power, who, he said, has not confirmed whether the solar panels are produced by Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang under a system of coercion.
He has since written to the company four times to seek assurance the materials were being manufactured in an above-board manner. He has not yet received an answer.
“It’s morally wrong. I trust you will agree with me that inadequate responses to these concerns are unsatisfactory,” Mr Tugendhat declared.
He added: “Our pursuit of net zero emissions must not come at the expense of fundamental human rights or long term energy security.
“While I support the transition to net-zero, relying on solar alone is neither reliable nor sustainable – it suffers from generation variability, high costs, and a significant carbon trade-off in production.
“The UK must take a responsible approach to energy policy, ensuring that our shift to renewables upholds ethical standards and truly strengthens our energy future.”
A spokesman for Evolution Power Limited said: “We understand the Committee was minded to refuse the proposal but that no Committee member could provide a reason for this decision that was consistent with national policy so they deferred to try to find a reason.
“We are aware that Mr Tugendhat continues to make false allegations against our company. We have confirmed on numerous occasions to Mr Tugendhat, in person and in writing, that we would not associate with a supplier where there is any evidence of human rights issues.
“It is not clear why he continues to make these inaccurate public claims and we request that he ceases to do so.”
GB News has approached Sevenoaks District Council for comment.