Latest solar farm plan sparks outrage

2:00pm Sunday 17th March 2013 in News

Latest solar farm plan sparks outrage Latest solar farm plan sparks outrage

PROPOSALS for a 40-acre solar farm in a Cotswold village have left residents up in arms.

German company Belectric Solar Ltd has submitted plans to Cotswold District Council for the installation of 66,000 solar panels at Rainbow Farm, Badsey Lane, Willersey.

The plans include collecting station, underground cable for connection to the local electricity network and security fencing.

Angry residents have launched a campaign against the latest proposals which they say is a “significant” development in the Cotswolds.

Simon Evans, aged 46, of Willersey Fields, is co-chairman of the residents’ group.

He said people were upset by the proposals as a lot of villagers lived near the site.

“A lot of residents are deeply concerned,” he said.

“The local community feel very strongly.

“It had a big visual impact and it’s closer to key landmarks like Broadway Tower and Saintbury.

“This development is 40 acres. It’s huge.

“The local community don’t benefit in any shape or form by it.”

Mr Evans said people also had major concerns over the fact that the German company behind the plans has no other sites in the UK.

A number of meetings were held last week in the village to discuss the proposals with more planned this week.

“There’s environment issues too,” said Mr Evans.

“It’s a flood-risk area where they are proposing it. I think everyone is shocked.”

Duncan Bott, director of Belectric Solar Ltd in the UK, said the proposed solar farm would produce enough power for 1,500 homes.

Mr Bott said: “The plot area is 16.5 hectares. Our plot is only going to be 12.6 hectares.

“Our solar panels are smaller than the typical ones and use a slightly different technology, which is lower impact.”

Mr Bott said he was aware concerns had been raised about the plans and said the company would be holding a public consultation at Willersey Parish Hall in the next few weeks to talk to residents.

The deadline for comments is today.

􀁥 Plans for an 11,500 solarpanel farm in Mickleton were thrown out last month while plans to increase the size of an existing solar farm at Northwick Park, near Chipping Campden, have just been approved.

Comments(1)

Robin1966 says...
12:47pm Mon 18 Mar 13

I suspect the visual impact is nothing compared to the prospect of people having their houses flooded out as a result of extreme weather caused by climate change, something that the Cotswolds has unfortunately experienced all too much in the recent past. Like it or not, the reality is that if you want to be part of a consumer society, all that energy has to come from somewhere. Given that oil is beginning to deplete, and that fossil fuels cause climate change anyway, renewable energy is, I am afraid, a necessity. As with other solar farms, I am absolutely sure that this project will be screened in order to render it largely invisible to the public, furthermore the fact that the solar panels will be installed on framing means that they will be protected from flood waters and therefore still able to generate much-needed energy, a far better outcome than farmers moaning about their flood-ruined crops, thus the fact that it is in a flood risk area is largely irrelevant. To oppose renewable energy is to invite climate change getting much, much, worse, with all that entails for people and property....

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