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Can You Help Protect Ryedale’s Countryside By Signing ‘The Rooftop Revolution’ Petition?

Richard McLane 1 Comment

For those of us who live here, we know that Ryedale is an area dominated by beautiful countryside, home to farming communities who are reliant on the continued productivity of our agricultural land.

It’s for this reason that we are today asking for your support in signing a petition launched by the CPRE (The Countryside Charity) to protect our landscape and farmland from being used for ground-mounted solar developments:

SIGN THE ROOFTOP REVOLUTION PETITION HERE >>

The petition has just passed 16,000 signatures, but with the need for at least 20,000, there is still some way to go….

How Will This Petition Benefit You

Nobody can escape the energy challenges we face as a result of climate change, where an estimated 60% of our top-grade agricultural land is at risk of being lost due to the threat of flooding. The ongoing issues of energy supply also continue to force household bills to rise, making the cost of living an unmanageable prospect for many families in our area.

Despite the need to therefore decarbonise the UK electricity grid and bring some stability to the energy market, the government will not meet their proposed target set almost ten years ago for generating 20GW of solar energy by 2024. Current data shows that despite the urgent need for implementing a robust solar strategy, the UK’s current solar PV capacity is around 14GW, of which just 5GW is produced through solar installations on rooftops.

“Moving forward, the next proposed target is to generate 70GW of solar energy – a 5-fold increase on what is currently being produced – just 12 years from now, by 2035. The pressure the conservative government faces in achieving this goal is however stark, forcing unfavourable proposals for large-scale solar farms on high-grade agricultural land in our area, such as that on the Sturdy’s family farm in Old Malton,” explains Richard McLane, parliamentary candidate for the Green Party in Malton & Thirsk.

“Whilst the environmental need exists for mass-produced solar energy, this approach does not offer a long term or sustainable solution to the environmental emergency we encounter. To offer its true worth, a viable solar energy scheme must also consider the effect it has on the local economy, surrounding communities, wildlife and the landscape itself,” Richard continues.

The Rooftop Revolution petition launched by the CPRE is asking the government to prioritise that clean and affordable solar electricity is generated from the rooftops of new buildings and commercial property wherever possible. With your support, we will ensure the government’s target for solar energy can be realistically achieved, reducing carbon emissions long-term and bringing greater energy security; whilst preserving Ryedale’s landscape and its fertile soil for the cultivation of locally produced, high quality food. 

Why Should Rooftop Solar Be Prioritised

Following a recent independent review commissioned by the CPRE, its findings confirm that without any rooftop solar installations and to meet the targets set for 2035 – 180,000 hectares of land would need to be covered with solar panels over the next 12 years – an area larger than the size of Greater London (157,000 hectares). Can we really afford to lose this land space?

In contrast, the report confirmed that that circa 65% of the solar energy that needs to be generated by 2035, can be produced through placing solar panels on the rooftops of commercial buildings and new homes alone. Whilst the use of buildings such as schools, railways, airports and hospitals offer further potential – the UK Warehousing Association reported that half of the UK’s need for solar power by 2030 (15GW) can be met by installing solar panels on just 20% of the currently available warehouse roof space.

Rooftops offer a vast and largely untapped resource for generating energy and resolving both the climate and cost of living crises we face. In fact longer term, the CPRE’s report states that by 2050 there is the potential to generate 117GW of low carbon, solar electricity from rooftop installations – removing any need for ground-mounted solar installations at all. Read the full report here >>

“The bare reality of this debate is that, despite its potential, there is still no support from the present government for solar energy installations. The conservative’s lack of commitment to creating a realistic solar framework is simply not acceptable. We each have a shared plight to combat climate change whilst also sustaining locally produced, high quality food, which in reality should be an achievable vision.”

All credit goes to the CPRE for their efforts in launching this rooftop solar campaign, causing us once again to question why our current government did not legislate years ago and demand that solar panels be installed on rooftops of all new buildings, as a bare minimum.

“Rooftop solar offers huge untapped capacity to meet our climate goals, and taking high-grade farmland out of food production does not offer a long-term sustainable outcome for our country.” concludes Richard.

Still Undecided?

If you are unsure whether this is a petition that you want to put your name to, please ask yourself…

  • Do you have younger generations within your family who deserve a bright future?
  • Would you like to see household bills and energy costs become more predictable?
  • Are you connected with or do you know people who work within the agricultural sector?
  • Do you feel that ground-mounted solar installations would impair the beauty of our natural landscape?
  • Do you enjoy food that is locally and sustainably produced by British farmers?

If you have answered ‘Yes’ to any of the above, then we urge you to offer your signature today.

The outcome of this petition will impact on us all.

Please sign the ROOFTOP REVOLUTION petition here >>

Solar vs Agriculture: Where does the buck stop?

Richard McLane 2 Comments

As the news comes in that Malton Town Council rejected the planning application which was validated earlier this month, for the solar power farm on prime agricultural land in Old Malton, North Yorkshire – has the time come, as a society, that we must seek clarification on where this is all heading?

Whilst the climate emergency we face is beyond comprehension for most, this prospect is conflicted by the sympathy being expressed for the Sturdy family, who have fallen victim to government policy on renewables and the ongoing lack of support given to the survival of small-scale farms by the Conservative party.

With so many people connected to the debate relating to the Eden Farm Solar Proposal who are now considering whether to oppose the plans and for what reason – the question at the forefront of this campaign is whether this scheme is ‘just another way’ of a landlord making more profit from the land it will occupy, at its tenant’s expense; or whether – given the potential environmental catastrophe we face – using the land as a source of solar energy production should be prioritised over protecting the use of high-grade agricultural land for food production?

As reported this week in the media, research is clearly showing that the world’s environmental target of keeping the global temperature rise below 1.5C is now going to be almost impossible to achieve. Furthermore, the cascading effects that we will face – including shortages of food, water and energy, as well as rising costs and mass migration – will be both irreversible and unmanageable. Quite simply, the only way of minimising the climate disaster which awaits us, is to deal with the source of the problem; and that is to slash carbon emissions now.

Solar and other renewable sources of energy are the only means for decarbonising the planet and without a strategy in place – nobody will escape what is to come. What is most worrying when watching the Eden Farm campaign unfold, is that the viability of this solar farm proposal will be dictated by the level of opposition it receives; rather than by robust legislation set out in government policy, which ensures the long-term environmental gains we require; and encourages the implementation of renewables in future, which are truly beneficial.

Following the campaign closely, is Malton and Thirsk’s parliamentary candidate for the Green Party (pictured above), Richard McLane, who is a passionate supporter of all forms of renewable energy. Combining his upbringing in Ryedale on a small farm in Gilling East with his political ties – leaves him however, in a conflicting position.  Richard cannot overlook the dilemma of losing top grade agricultural land to a solar farm, yet is starkly aware of the critical need for producing renewable energy without delay.

“Our current government’s record on implementation of renewables is woeful,” explains Richard McLane. “I see new developments being built up and down the country with not a single solar panel in sight. Considering our reliance on fossil fuels from other countries and the damage they are doing to the planet – this is nothing less than an act of pure negligence from those in power.”

So Where Do We Go From Here?

Improving the grid infrastructure to incentivise proposals on brownfield sites and making use of rooftops belonging to both industrial and agricultural buildings, are the only long-term strategies for implementing solar schemes. Aside from his political interests, Richard is the founder of a local manufacturing business in Helmsley and can confirm first-hand, that despite having financed a solar panel installation for the rooftops of his own industrial units (below), there still remains no clear incentive for businesses to make these investments.

“As well as offering no financial motivation for local businesses to produce solar power, it seems obscene that the government is still not committed to improving the grid infrastructure or mandating by law that new developments include solar panel installation,” continues Richard.

“All of these measures would encourage solar proposals which don’t risk jeopardising high grade agricultural land, thus in effect improving the overall environmental value and impact they will have.”

In this case, the attraction of the site is clear, due to its close proximity to the grid connections, however just a stones throw away, is the newly developed Eden Business Park in Old Malton, which occupies 30 acres of land and contains numerous industrial and office buildings, without a single solar panel installed.

For the Sturdy’s, until our elected government instigates the change required to incentivise proposals for solar energy production in the right places, the continued loss of prime agricultural land remains a genuine and inevitable threat. There can be no better time than now, that we hold the government to account and demand answers which respond to the climate threats we face.   

Empty Promises – Will They Ever Keep Their Word?

Richard McLane Leave a comment

It is six months since three generations of the McLane family were left feeling deeply disappointed following a meeting with Malton & Thirsk Conservative MP, Kevin Hollinrake. “His responses to the challenges we raised – which affect both our area and the environment – simply lacked any fact or degree of compassion,” confirms Richard McLane, parliamentary candidate for Malton and Thirsk Green Party.

As the Conservative government once again faces embarrassing scrutiny – there’s no wonder a rural revolt is currently brewing against Truss. Leading party figures and charities have accused the new PM of “environmental vandalism” following their recent party conference. Truss has been brazen in her plans to prioritise economic growth at the expense of key environmental commitments; again like Kevin, completely disregarding the facts and state of emergency our climate is currently facing.

George Eustice reports his dismay – watching on as the policies he championed in his former role as Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, are simply ‘being dismantled’. But as Truss seeks to confront and alienate rural communities and nature-led organisations, naming them collectively as an ‘anti-growth coalition’; it is these people who in fact have the critical knowledge and influence to drive forward nature recovery and enable sustainable food production on the ground.

Former Nature Minister Rebecca Pow comments in a recent article in the Guardian on the importance of these stakeholders, including farmers – and how she consulted with them regularly when developing agricultural and environmental policies in her role. Involving them was key to setting and achieving realistic targets.

With Tory polls presently being at rock bottom, this isn’t a great time to be contesting critical environmental commitments. In Truss’s growth plan, it states that environmental legislation could be slashed to make development in investment zones easier. Whilst the plans to banish EU red tape later this year will likely mean that rare plants and animals will lose their protection status.

Once again we’re seeing bottomless promises from the Conservative leadership:

  • Raw sewage in our rivers and on our coasts
  • Protection of our natural environment torn up for more growth
  • Trade deals that allow cheap imports to undercut our farmers
  • Continued support of fracking when renewable energy is both cleaner, safer and significantly less expensive.


“I’m greatly concerned by the nativity of this government in disregarding the environmental challenges we face; and am moreso bewildered by their confidence to do this at a time when they simply can’t afford to lose any further support from constituents,” Richard continues.

The RSPB, Rivers Trust, National Trust and Wildlife Trust alone represent in excess of 10 million voters in the UK – do these people’s votes not matter to the Conservative party? Our people must start and question who they are voting for and why. Whilst our country submerges into an economic crisis under such fragile leadership – the environment cannot wait any longer. It’s now or never if we are to secure the future of our next generations.

The Conservative party was elected having promised to prioritise climate change. This responsibility cannot be disregarded for the benefit of the economy – the two work hand in hand and we can only thrive in a world that is sustainable.

Small steps by many make a big change overall – let’s not continue just doing what we’ve always done – it’s time to make positive change.

North Yorkshire County Council Election Results 2022 – “A Life Changing Experience” for Local Candidate, Richard McLane

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Greens claim second place to the Tories in the Kirkbymoorside & Dales division, raising their overall number of votes across the Ryedale district by 159% compared to the same election in 2017.

Having only entered politics very recently, local business owner and Green candidate Richard McLane, more than doubled the number of votes in his area to 549 in May 2022 from just 170 achieved five years previously, coming a close second to Greg Wright who was representing the Tories.

After visiting every home and farm in his division, from Bransdale to Rosedale and Kirkbymoorside up to Cropton, Richard summarises the experience as ‘both life-changing and an utter privilege to have met and listened to how so many interesting people live in the unique surroundings we can all call home.’

Having gained a clear understanding of the real challenges people in our community are facing, Richard is saddened he won’t be representing them on the Council. He does however feel incredibly grateful for the support he received throughout the campaign, having built such a strong following in what was a relatively short space of time.

A Green Surge or A Protest Vote?

Richard’s success in this campaign is characteristic of the Green surge we’ve seen nationwide during the local elections, with the party having achieved a record 545 councillors on 166 councils, in comparison to 445 councillors on 362 councils in 2017.

Richard with Green Party winner of Sowerby & Topcliffe division Dave Whitfield, whilst campaigning in April

Five of these councillors were elected on to North Yorkshire’s County Council (with several close seconds) – compared to zero wins five years ago in the same region.

In particular the Green’s strong track record to influence localised, relatable issues – giving their candidates the freedom to do what is best for their community – has certainly been a highly influential factor in their success in Ryedale.

From the results across the Ryedale district, we can see that the 159% rise in voter support for the Green’s, was largely at the expense of the Conservative and Liberals.

Table 1: Greens achieve greatest rise in voter support compared to 2022

RYEDALE DISTRICT% Change20172022
Conservative-17%862855.1%717544.5%
Labour-5%10666.8%10146.3%
Green+159%7104.5%184511.4%
Liberal-16%174211.1%14699.1%
Lib Dems-2%195612.5%192411.9%
Independents+71%15549.9%265916.5%
Yorkshire Party 00.0%500.3%
Total1565616136

Across all divisions in Ryedale, Greens received support in 5 out of the 8 newly formed divisions (63%) compared to 2 out of the 6 seats available (33%) in 2017. In recognition of the increased support the Green’s received, winner of the Kirkbymoorside and Dales division Greg Wright made his way to Richard after the count was confirmed, asking in his opinion, ‘what the Conservatives needed to be prioritising’.

In his conversation Richard made reference to the need for a focus on the environmental crisis we face, reminding Greg of the recent motion he had himself drafted declaring a climate emergency and extending his offer of support in pushing this through, should it be needed.

“Our constituents expect that simple steps and incentives towards reducing our environmental impact are now made standard and encourage, for example, the increased use of sustainable packaging; providing widespread access to vehicle charging points and; ensuring all new properties are built as energy efficiently as possible,” Richard confirms. “Any politician who is not willing to make these initiatives a priority is sealing their fate and will eventually suffer as a result.”

Whilst the Ryedale district had the highest electorate turnout (38.9%) in North Yorkshire, Richard observed with concern, the disconnect between young people and politics.

“Having spoken to so many of the younger generation over recent weeks, it was quite depressing to learn of the distrust they have in politicians and their refusal to go out and cast a vote” Richard comments.

“Our politicians have a duty to reverse this inclination and need to think hard and fast about why this segment of our voters have become so disengaged.”

“Time will tell if my conversation with Greg was genuine and whether he is going to take our division’s environmental concerns seriously. The Green’s success can clearly be attributed to how hard our representatives are working to resolve localised issues, which contribute to global problems that will inevitably affect us all,” Richard concludes.

So What Next?

Well to provide some solace to all those who placed their trust in Richard, he now commits to continue on his quest and influence the priorities he campaigned on – in particular helping to secure the future of family farms and drive increased local food production within the Ryedale district.

He also plans to play an active role in pushing effective policy change through, by persistently communicating with our political leaders on the things that matter to the people in our area.

Please feel free to contact Richard if you have issues or concerns that you believe the government should be taking action on. And thanks again to all those who took the time to vote and offer their support to Richard in this election campaign. Email: mclanesustain@gmail.com

Kirkbymoorside & Dales Division Council Election – Why Vote Richard McLane

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Following the much appreciated support I received in the recent Cropton Ward by-election, I have put myself forward to stand for the newly formed Kirkbymoorside and Dales Division for the North Yorkshire County Council election, taking place on May 5th 2022.

Born in Ryedale and having established my own business in this area, I have lived in the Kirkbymoorside and Dales division for 18 years. Over recent weeks and months, I have had the pleasure of meeting so many of you, allowing me to obtain a good understanding of the needs and challenges of both residents, local businesses and farmers in our community. It is my passion to develop a sustainable plan which ensures your future within our district is secure.

As local residents – for me, your needs come above party politics. And here lies the benefit of voting for the Green Party. As candidates, we are encouraged to represent the individual needs of our area and are not obliged to follow rigid policy like other parties. I’m here to represent you.

So whilst the integrity of the Conservative government continues to be questioned and they proceed to abolish the Ryedale District Council, creating a single council which covers all of North Yorkshire – from Settle to Scarborough to Selby – now more than ever, our community needs to elect someone who will stand up for us all and who you can trust to make a difference.

I will do my utmost to be that person and I hope you will give me that opportunity.

Here Are My Priorities:

Having grown up on a working farm in Ryedale, I know how important agriculture is to our regional economy. We need to protect small-scale family farms and put in place the necessary support measures to make farming sustainable and profitable for future generations.

Our local economy needs to thrive and so it’s essential we support local food production and distribution. High quality, locally produced food must be accessible and affordable to everyone in our community. I will campaign for fair prices, reduced imports and better distribution.

I’ve had lots of feedback from residents highlighting concerns about road safety – particularly in those villages with busy roads running through them, such as those on the A170. I will support investment to both control & reduce traffic speed through these locations.

Our young people are the future and we need to look after this generation, ensuring they can access affordable housing and good employment opportunities. I’m ready to make change that helps long-term so they can live in our area for years to come.

In addition to the above, I will be prioritising improvements to social care standards and will be confronting one of the biggest threats our society currently faces; climate change. NYCC is persistently refusing to join the list of 307 councils across the country who have now declared a climate emergency. This cannot continue.

Please use your vote on the 5th May and remember, the Green Party gives me the platform to support and take action on the priorities that matter to us, as residents of the Kirkbymoorside & Dales Division. Thank you.

Hedge Laying Event at Lodgefield Farm

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What a fantastic turn out we had for our hedge-laying event last month – where we invited all those interested to join us to either watch or help with laying a section of hedging at Lodgefield Farm, Gilling East. Having grown up in this spectacular location perched on the hillside overlooking the Gilling valley, Richard McLane and family welcomed people from the Ryedale district to learn from award winning hedge-layer Edward Caldecott, as he demonstrated the art of hedge-laying and explained the benefits of this traditional craft.

The hedge itself had been planted by Richard McLane’s mother 20 years ago and hadn’t been touched since. Primarily hawthorn and dotted with a small number of field maple and ash trees, the hedge had reached a height of over three metres and so was in need of some care to sustain its healthy growth. Thankfully we were lucky with the weather and whilst it was a crisp January morning, the sun was shining and it didn’t take long to get warm.

With almost 50 people attending throughout the course of the day, attendees were varied, coming from all walks of life, ranging from local farmers and landscape gardeners to engineers, conservationists, builders and children with their parents in home education. Having met people travelling from Scarborough, Beningbrough and Thirsk, it was both rewarding and reassuring to see such a genuine interest in hedge-laying and the associated benefits it offers the farming sector and our natural environment.

Please do look out for future and upcoming events on our FACEBOOK PAGE – but in the meantime we thought it would be of interest to summarise our hedge-laying technique and highlight why you may want to consider practising this century-old craft yourself:

Why Consider Hedge-Laying?

  • To prolong the life of your hedgerow and help new growth flourish
  • To create a life-long boundary for containing stock and animals for farming purposes
  • To rejuvenate stunted, bare-stemmed hedging; neglect remains their primary threat
  • To overcome the damage caused by excessive use of herbicides and over-cutting
  • To encourage new growth from the base, enhancing and maintaining our landscape
  • To improve your local biodiversity, creating a haven for wildlife and helping nature thrive

10 Steps To Successful Hedge-Laying

  1. The best time of year to lay your hedge is whilst the plants are dormant and bird activity is at its lowest, typically October to March each year.
  2. Before you begin, check the regional style of hedging which is typically adopted in your area. Here in Ryedale we prefer the Yorkshire style – however THIS WEBSITE has some helpful advice when making this decision.
  3. Clear out dead wood from beneath the hedge and remove all growth which is out of line – this provides clear access to carry out subsequent steps.
  4. Select evenly spaced pleachers (the main stems that are cut and laid). Younger stems will regenerate more successfully than the older more mature pleachers. N.B the larger field maple trees were not laid as they crack very easily.
  5. Remove vigorous species such as Elder, as these cannot be laid successfully and they will suppress other plants as they try to re-establish themselves.
  6. Cut pleachers so that the trimmed stump sits circa 5-10 cm above the ground – ensuring beforehand, that the tops aren’t tangled in the rest of the hedge which allows them to fall freely.
  7. Whilst you should not cut right through the pleacher in order to give the best chance to re-grow, you must cut far enough so it can lower in to its new position without being forced.
  8. All pleachers must be laid to the same angle and ideally should be laid uphill to help the flow of sap.

The McLane family would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who attended their hedge-laying event for their enthusiasm and interest – and for making the day such a memorable occasion. They look forward to seeing their freshly laid hedge flourish over the years to come and hope to see some of you again at future events.

Please remember to follow their Facebook page to keep up to date.

Too much plastic

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Kevin

Start a deposit scheme immediately on all recyclable plastic products from bottles to bale wrap. Legislate to ban all non-recyclable plastics immediately. Just because something cannot be ‘economically’ recycled does not mean it should be burnt or buried. We all need to pay the TRUE price of what we consume. Part of the cost must not be paid by our future or by others futures.

You set your bar below ground level when you start by comparing your performance by others already woeful performance. We all know what needs doing, please just get on and do it.

The thing is, you would get so little push back from the electorate, in fact if you nailed this issue you would look like heroes……… (the only push back you will get is from your funders, in the fossil fuel industry – INEOS etc….)

Stop relying on the free market to solve the problems of its lack of self-regulation/regulation has created…….. if you keep doing the same thing then the result will be the same.

You have had 12 years now to make a difference and the problem has got worse.  Please change direction.

Kind regards, Richard.

Climate Crisis and Food

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The Guardian newspaper is running an online live panel session at 7 pm on Monday 22 February 2021. The full title is “How is the climate crisis impacting the global food supply?” The session is described as follows:

How can we ensure we are eating more ethically, and supporting the farmers who are bearing the brunt of the climate crisis?

Our panel will discuss the effects of the climate catastrophe on the lives of farmers, in this livestreamed event supported by the Fairtrade Foundation.

Roughly one fifth of the UK’s fresh food imports come from areas threatened with climate chaos, sourced under conditions which are directly driving deforestation, drought and significant wealth inequality.

Now that we are living through a pandemic, the difficulties faced by farmers in the global south are being exacerbated, with many of them unable to cope with the huge challenges that come from changing weather patterns and demand, which also has a knock-on effect on the future of the food they grow, and on which millions of consumers in the UK depend.

As increasingly extreme and unpredictable weather patterns undermine the livelihoods of farmers, our panel – chaired by Guardian journalist Lucy Siegle, with Professor Emeritus of Food Policy, City University of London Tim Lang, Managing director of Fairtrade banana cooperative Banelino and Chair of CLAC Marike de Peña, and Reparationist Esther Stanford-Xosei, will be asking: how can we choose a fairer future for the people behind our food supply?

This is a free-to-attend event, supported by the Fairtrade Foundation.

The session will last an hour and you can book free tickets on the Guardian web site.