Liberal Democrats condemn Conservatives and Reform for voting to abandon residents over East Park energy development

Councillor Ros Hathorn, Liberal Democrat Chair of the Environment and Green Investment Committee, has condemned Conservative and Reform councillors for voting to abandon residents affected by the proposed East Park Energy solar scheme.

The controversial vote at yesterday's committee meeting means Conservatives and Reform actively sought to prevent Cambridgeshire County Council from submitting any response to the government on the solar development planned for the St Neots and Kimbolton area.

Tory and Reform Hypocrisy Exposed:

Conservative councillors spent considerable time at the meeting attacking solar schemes and voicing concerns about the development. But when it came time to actually do something about it, they voted with Reform to block submitting any response to government. 

Had Reform and the Conservatives had their way, residents would have been left completely at the developer's mercy with no formal county council representation in the planning process.

Cllr Ros Hathorn (Histon and Impington), Liberal Democrat Chair of the Environment and Green Investment Committee, said:

"This was an astonishing display of short-term political posturing over residents' interests. Conservatives spent the meeting loudly opposing solar schemes, then voted to ensure the council couldn't actually represent residents' concerns to government.

"Whether you support or oppose large solar developments, developers must be held to account and challenged to deliver the best, least impactful schemes possible. The only way to do that is to engage properly with the NSIP process.

"Without a formal response, residents have no hooks to argue for changes, improvements, or protections. Conservatives and Reform abandoned the people of St Neots and Kimbolton to the whims of the developer.

"Liberal Democrats voted to submit a comprehensive response that would have given residents real leverage to demand better community benefits, stronger environmental protections, and proper mitigation measures. That's the difference between performative politics and actually standing up for communities."

Liberal Democrat Delivery:

The Liberal Democrats are working constructively with all local councils to negotiate the best possible community benefit packages from the development, ensuring residents see tangible benefits if the scheme proceeds.

The Lib Dem-run County Council has become increasingly sophisticated in challenging NSIP applications, securing better outcomes for affected communities through detailed technical responses that developers and government must address.

Cllr Adam Bostanci (Melbourn and Bassingbourn), Liberal Democrat Vice-Chair of the Environment and Green Investment Committee, said:

"The Conservatives and Reform proved yesterday that they're more interested in political theatre than protecting residents. They talked big but brought no suggestions or amendments to the report, they simply voted to abandon communities when it mattered.

"Liberal Democrats are committed to supporting communities across all of Cambridgeshire. We'll continue to stand up for residents and ensure their voices are heard - even when the Conservatives and Reform won't.

"This wasn't about whether you support or oppose solar farms. This was about whether the council represents residents' interests or leaves them defenceless. Conservatives and Reform chose abandonment. Liberal Democrats chose representation."