Lincolnshire Council Leader Vows to Block UK's Largest Solar Farm

Last month, the UK government approved plans for the Tillbridge Solar project, a massive 3,000-acre solar farm in Lincolnshire that would be the largest in the country. However, the leader of the Lincolnshire County Council, Councillor Sean Matthews, has vowed to do everything in his power to stop the development.

Councillor Matthews, who leads the Reform UK-led council, has described the solar farm as "vandalism of our beautiful county" and says he is willing to "lie down in front of bulldozers" to halt construction. He claims the project is "absolutely unnecessary" and will turn Lincolnshire into an "industrial wasteland."

The Tillbridge Solar project is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, meaning the government had the final say on approving the plans. Local authorities, including West Lindsey District Council, have raised concerns about the cumulative impact of large-scale infrastructure projects in the region.

Despite the government's approval, Councillor Matthews says the council is exploring options, including a potential judicial review, to "slow this down until we get a Reform government" that will scrap the "net zero nonsense." He insists the solar farm is a "temporary thing" that his party will eliminate if they come to power.

For now, the Tillbridge Solar project is set to move forward, with developers saying it will be able to power around 300,000 homes. However, the fierce opposition from Lincolnshire's council leadership suggests this battle over the UK's largest solar farm is far from over.