THERE are fears rolling Worcestershire countryside views will be lost forever if a solar power station is given the green light.

Four parish councils have united in opposition to the proposed site of a new solar power station in Worcestershire.

A planning application was submitted to Wychavon District Council last month by German-owned JBM Solar, for plans to build on 287 acres of countryside in Inkberrow.

The proposed site will be located between Stockwood and Stock Green and will consist of battery storage facilities that buy and sell energy from the grid from renewable and non-renewable sources.

The facility will feature forty-plus batteries and inverters dotted around the site.

Inkberrow, Stock and Bradley, Feckenham and Kington and Dormston Parish Councils have this week put in their objections to the plans.

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Phil Coathup, from the Roundhill Wood Solar Farm Opposition Group, said: “All parishes recognise that this beautiful part of the county will be lost forever if these plans get the go-ahead.

“Common themes are their concern about the miles and miles of fencing and the impact this will have on animals in the area many of which are protected and endangered species.

“The volume of traffic down narrow country lanes, some less than four metres wide, will make it so dangerous for the many leisure cyclists, walkers and horses who use this route.

“And of course, there’s the noise of the construction itself and after some parish councillors visited a solar farm under construction in Bishampton, they were left in no doubt that the repetitive sound of the pile driving was loud and debilitating for those living nearby.

“We all believe that the operational noise has been downplayed because in an urban environment where general background noise is constant, the humming would be hidden but, in this location, the only nighttime noise is that of wildlife.

“There are specific objections to the application from each individual parish with Feckenham for example concerned about the installation of more than 4km of cabling and whether a separate planning application is required.

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“The reality is this development is far too large for this location and completely out of character with it. It will be a visual eyesore in an otherwise unspoilt rural area, and we urge residents to join with us in opposing these plans.”

According to JBM Solar, Roundhill Solar Farm will generate enough renewable energy to meet the equivalent annual electricity needs of over 18,000 homes. 

JBM Solar also expects between eight to 12 movements a day during construction with deliveries being limited to outside-of-school drop-off and pick-up times.

The business said it will also be locating noise-generating equipment towards the centre of the site during construction.

For more information about the campaign, you can visit www.rwsf.co.uk.