Among the responses to PVDP’s consultation was a letter co-signed by the Conservative MPs Robert Courts and John Howell, as well as their Commons colleague Victoria Prentice MP (whose constituency neighbors the site) and Rupert Harrison (a former Treasury big-hitter who, if his run for an Oxfordshire seat at the next election is successful, will represent a chunk of the solar site.)
Major developments should be “proportionate and sensitively located,” and Botley West is neither, the letter says, rehearsing the politicians’ previous protests.
But the MPs also brought up PVDP’s proposed community benefit fund, in a tone suggesting there might after all be some — very expensive — wiggle room.
“It is also felt strongly that the community benefit funding of £50,000 per annum currently proposed — should your scheme ultimately be approved — is woefully inadequate for a development of this scale,” the MPs wrote.
Any funds should recognize “the negative impact residents are expected to endure,” they continued. “Community groups argue that a starting point for discussion should instead be £3 million.”
Maybe it will be possible to buy off some of the NIMBYs. Maybe — more likely — MPs want to be able to show their voters that, if and when an unpopular decision is passed down from on high, they fought for some local benefits.
Maybe those crucial solar decisions, central to the country’s green ambitions, will be mothballed for months or even years more.
Maybe, maybe, maybe. As POLITICO heads back out of Oxfordshire, the car passes a sign on the road into town. “Eynsham,” it says: “A great place to belong.”
