RESIDENTS from villages near Wellesbourne have united in their fight against another planning application for a solar farm on their doorstep.
Those living in Moreton Morrell, Lighthorne and Ashorne say the Deeres Leap Solar Farm will bring no community energy benefits to the homes across both parishes.
The planning application has been given the go-ahead by Stratford District Council and is currently under public consultation until October 1.
It extends to both sides of the Fosse Way over 123 acres, and would see nearly half a million solar panels installed on food producing agricultural land.
Dawn Cooper from Moreton Morrell explained: “As a group of villagers we are not against the principle of solar energy, but this part of the district is being targeted by greedy solar farm developers and we already have over 1,000 acres of solar farms either in planning or operation within a five mile radius of our parish, and don’t benefit energy wise from any of them.
“This is development on an industrial scale, as 1,000 acres of solar farms equates to four million solar panels at the cost and destruction of our rural landscape character.
“Yes we recognise the need for green energy, but not at the destruction of our rural countryside and food producing agricultural land. Local planning authorities need to consider the cumulative impact of having so many solar farms in one particular area and not just because there is capacity on the National Grid to be used to fuel the UK’s city conurbations.”
Their concerns also extend to the likely traffic chaos on the Fosse Way during and post the construction period, as the planning application has indicated the need for two new large access points into the site on either side of this busy and accident prone road.
In addition, from the historical environment perspective, the site has archaeological significance in view of its close proximity to a medieval village.
The group from Moreton Morrell, Lighthorne and Ashorne have less than three weeks to encourage support from villagers against the planning application, which is currently out for consultation.
To sign the petition visit www.nosolarfarm.co.uk
