Go-ahead for Cotswold village solar panels despite concerns
Villagers say they have been ignored over their fears the panels will “blight” the rural landscape
Plans for solar panels in the Cotswolds have been given the go-ahead amid concerns villagers have been ignored over their fears they will “blight” the rural landscape.
Michael Lee has been granted permission from Cotswold District Council to install the 32 solar panel array at The Green Cottage at The Crescent in Maugersbury near Stow-on-the-Wold.
The proposal was referred to the planning and licensing committee at the request of Councillor Dilys Neill (LD, Stow) who said she supported the scheme as the council has declared a climate change emergency.
But she wanted it to be considered by councillors due to the proposals’ impact on the Cotswold National Landscape and the setting of the Half Moon House, a grade II-listed house.
Maugersbury Parish Council had objected to the scheme because they said it would be visible from the wider Cotswold National Landscape and from public footpath that runs down the side of the site.
“Not only will this be a blight on an important rural view of Maugersbury village, it will also impact on the setting of the listed Half Moon House that is directly behind the site.
“Council supports the Conversation Officer’s point that trees and hedges can be lost or removed and therefore should not be relied on to make a development proposal acceptable.”
Planning officers recommended approving the scheme and they say the harm to nearby listed buildings and the Cotswold landscape can be mitigated by extra planting on the site.
Wei Yang, the owner of Half Moon House, spoke at the meeting on August 7.
She thanked the efforts of the applicant and planning officers in reducing the size of the development. But raised concerns over the change in the gap of the hedgerow.
It had been changed from being 2.5 metres from the first row of the solar panel on the north side to 7 metres after a reduction in the number of solar panels on the site.
“I strongly advocate with the support of my fellow residents for maintaining a gap of 2.45 metres,” she said.
She said it would provide more effective screening and reduce the enclosure effect to the setting of Half Moon House.
A statement read out on behalf of Councillor Neill said she was friends with the applicant and would not have been able to take part in the debate.
She agreed with the recommendation to approve the scheme but referred the proposals to be debated by the planning committee due to concerns in the village about the effect of the installation on the landscape and Half Moon House.
Councillor Patrick Coleman (LD, Stratton) said the proposals were for a particularly beautiful spot.
“Not just the wonderful views across a wide area of the national landscape but also the unique listed building which has been referred to as Half Moon Cottage,” he said.
He said there would be very little vertical impact and a suitably placed hedge would be effective in masking the panels.
During the debate, Councillor David Fowles (C, Coln Valley) said the parish council had opposed the proposals on three occasions.
He said: “They said it would impact on the area of outstanding natural beauty, so how can we do anything other than support the views of the parish council?
“It’s as clear as the day is long. Why have parish councils if we don’t want to listen to them?
“I’m concerned we are ignoring very strong views expressed on three separate occasions by the parish council.”
In responding to that point, Councillor Mike Evemy (LD, Siddington and Cerney Rural) said he has read what they said and listened to the the ward councillor.
“Just because a parish council objects to an application does not mean that this committee should refuse,” he said.
“We have to take everything in the round.” Councillor Andrew Maclean (G, The Rissingtons) proposed approving the scheme and this was seconded by Cllr Evemy.
The committee voted to approve the scheme by seven votes in favour to three against.