Cheshire Police submit 'concerns' for planned Crewe Alex solar farm development
Cheshire Police has submitted its 'concerns' on a planned Crewe Alex FC solar farm development - believing it could be damaged if 'a mass disorder' took place during a match day.
On January 31, Crewe Alex submitted proposals to create a covered car park and solar farm - aiming to benefit the environment, local community, and the club.
The project to install more than 3,000 solar panels above parking spaces on Mornflake Stadium Car Park, Gresty Road, has the potential to make Crewe net carbon negative.
Crewe held a public consultation event with local residents at Mornflake Stadium on 4 February - explaining details of the scheme.
Cheshire Police recently responded to the application - highlighting its 'concerns' with what is currently proposed.
Designing out crime officer, Mark Cotton, believed the current plans gave 'easy opportunities' for people to climb the structures.
A statement read: "The height of canopies is unspecified, however judging by the visual representations, there appears to be easy opportunities to climb/scale the structures.
"With vehicles parked underneath, these will act as additional climbing aids to reach the structures.
"There is a high potential for the structures to be scaled by miscreants, who have the potential to cause damage to the infrastructure."
Crewe Alex's new solar farm would provide car park users and local residents with access to electric vehicle charging points.
It would also provide a new revenue stream to Crewe Alexandra over the long-term.
DOCO Cotton believed the proposed photovoltaic panels for Crewe's solar farm could be 'easily damaged' if 'a mass disorder' was to take place on a match day.
He said: "There are concerns they could be easily damaged by throwing missiles (bricks, bottles etc) at them.
"This is a significant concern, should a mass disorder take place during a match day when rival companies of fans from football clubs attend the stadium.
Each Gresty Road parking space will be sheltered by a structure which contains a solar panel, with a number featuring charging points for electric cars.
This could also be useful for visiting supporters who have travelled large distances to games.
The energy generated could be used to power the stadium, or sold to a third party, or to the National Grid to provide an ongoing source of income.
Mr Cotton also pointed out potential theft as a problem.
He added: "Theft of solar farm equipment is a growing national concern/threat.
"What proposals are in place to secure and reduce the potential for theft of the panels and associated wiring and infrastructure?"
The DOSO has told Crewe Alexandra to contact him directly if they would like to discuss any of these raised issues further.
The last date for submitting comments on the planning application was Wednesday 1 March with a target decision date of Tuesday 29 March already passed.
READ MORE: Bull shot dead after 'charging at people' in incident close to Crewe primary school.
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