Council Leader outlines reasons for opposing industrial solar farm
The Council says the Lime Down Solar Farm project threatens food security in the county
The leader of Wiltshire Council is warning that a planned 2,200 acre solar farm between Chippenham and Malmesbury could have a devastating impact on food security in Wiltshire.
The Lime Down Solar Farm proposed by Island Green Power could provide 115,000 homes with green energy, if given the go-ahead.
But the local authority has outlined its opposition to the project, which was done at Full Council earlier this week (22/7).
Council Leader Ian Thorn told us why the authority has taken that stance.
He said: "Our principal concern is around the size we're talking about 2200 acres. This is like nothing else. Anybody will have ever seen possibly in terms of a solar farm.
"It will have long lasting impacts on the communities on local residents that our ability to generate food."
Cllr Thorn added: "The fact that despite this proposal being wholly within Wiltshire, Wiltshire residents have had virtually no say at all, and so we think from a democracy point of view that we want to be very loud and clear about what our views are and why we have those views."
He said the project would also be a massive blow to the Wiltshire countryside: "We're talking about, effectively, the long term destruction of an enormous part of our countryside, not just in the north of the county, because the trench that will need to be dug to plug into the National Grid will run from mile after mile after mile."
The Council Leader agrees that the transition to renewable energy is one that needs to be made, insisting that there is a "clear programme" in Wiltshire designed to boost green energy across the county.
It includes placing solar panels over car parks and on leisure centres, and placing small wind turbines on Council owned land.
"There's absolutely no doubt that we are committed, absolutely committed to renewable energy. But this project is so enormous it will only be considered via a public inquiry and potentially the Secretary of State, and we think that's wrong," Cllr Thorn said.
He added that he hopes to speak to Ed Miliband, Secretary of State of Energy and Net Zero, while technical and planning issues will be presented at the public inquiry.
Cllr Thorn believes there are alternatives to the proposal set out.
"This project is such an impact. There are so many alternatives and we think that he should consider those alternatives in in the widest sense, rather than support this particular application."
A DESNZ spokesperson said: “Solar is at the heart of our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower.
“As of September last year, solar farms covered around 0.1 per cent of the total land area of the UK, while bringing huge benefits for the British public and our energy security.
“Projects are subject to a rigorous planning process, in which the views and interests of the local community and impacts on the local environment, including any impact on amenities, landscapes and land use, are considered.”
An Island Green Power spokesperson said: "We’re grateful for all the feedback received from members of the public and interested parties during our statutory consultation and the recent targeted consultation. We are carefully considering this as we continue to refine our plans for the Project."