Take action now and help Save The Shire

Please spend a few minutes to ask the management of RWE, the German-based energy company, to withdraw their application to build a 287-acre industrial power station on the land that inspired J.R.R. Tolkien.

We will send the letter below to RWE executives including Katja Wünschel, RWE’s Chief Executive Officer, and Thomas Glover, RWE UK Country Chair, in your name.

We will also send the letter to decision makers to show the level of public support for asking RWE to withdraw their application. Hopefully, prompting them to do more to save our rural landscape and productive agricultural from industrialisation and find better ways delivering the renewable solar energy we need.

The list of people who will be emailed include Ed Miliband – Secretary of State for Climate Change & Net Zero, and Philip Hunt – Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, and Michael Shanks – Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy, and Claire Coutinho – Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change & Net Zero, and Pippa Heylings – Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Energy Security & Net Zero - pippa.heylings.mp@parliament.uk

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Copy of the letter to be sent to RWE executives

An open letter to RWE Executives including CEO Katja Wünschel and Thomas Glover, UK Country Chair

I am writing to ask you to withdraw the planning applications for Earls Common Road, Stock Green in Worcestershire filed with Wychavon District Council (Application number W23/00270/FUL), that will destroy J.R.R. Tolkien’s last remaining landscape.

I understand the importance role renewable energy has in terms of addressing climate change but the site you have chosen for this solar industrial power station is not suitable.

The site has unique significance as J.R.R. Tolkien’s last remaining literary landscape and is on productive agricultural land.

According to Tolkien biographers, Tolkien often visited his aunt’s farm, ‘Bag End’ in Dormston. The house of his hero, Bilbo Baggins in the Hobbit, was called ‘Bag End’ and his creation of ‘The Shire’, a sheltered tranquil region of Middle-Earth, is thought to be inspired by the view from the real-life ‘Bag End’.

More than 7800 people have now submitted formal objections to Wychavon and Redditch councils opposed to your scheme.

I understand that all four affected Parish Councils are united in their opposition to your scheme as are two local MPs, Rachel Maclean, and Nigel Huddleston.

The reality is that this 287-acre development, only represents a tiny percentage (3.8%) of the total megawatt capacity in the RWE pipeline in the UK.

It’s not too late to change your minds.

• Thousands of local people have formally objected to your scheme.
• You are destroying Tolkien’s last remaining literary landscape.
• Thousands of people nationwide, upset about Tolkien’s last remaining landscape being destroyed, have formally objected to your scheme.
• This scheme represents a tiny percentage of your pipeline in the UK.
• This scheme is being proposed on productive agricultural land.
• Politicians and leading Tolkien academics are condemning your scheme.

I am asking you to do the right thing and withdraw your planning applications.

I look forward to hearing from you.

With kind regards