County a solar farm dumping ground, says councillor

A councillor said a rural county had become "a dumping ground for solar farms" as a 218-acre plan was discussed.

Reform UK councillor Chris Brautigam also told Wiltshire Council's strategic planning committee "we've already done our bit" on meeting solar targets.

He spoke as the authority turned down the Potterne Park Farm proposal, between the villages of Potterne, Urchfont, and Easterton. But council officers said the applicant can reapply after providing more information on the impact on archaeological assets.

Peter Grubb, from the Potterne Solar Farm Project, said climate change meant the proposal "qualifies as a critical national priority".

Referring to the council exceeding by 39% its 2030 solar target, Brautigam told the committee "Wiltshire is a dumping ground for solar farms. We've already done our bit."

The plans also followed the rejection of a 70-acre solar farm just a mile from the 218-acre site, on 30 May.

Steve Holt of Potterne Solar Action Group, a local campaign group fighting both solar farm applications, welcomed the latest refusal but wanted to see the reasons strengthened.

"One month ago a refusal notice was issued for One Tree Hill. This is the same landscape, the same valley, and the same ecosystem," he said.

"But this proposal is three times larger, and the impact will be even greater."

Arguing for the latest scheme Mr Grubb said: "This proposal is for a clean energy generator brought forward at a time when fossil fuel power stations are being phased out, electricity demand is rising sharply, and international conflicts continue to leave us exposed to volatile gas prices.

"We're also seeing extreme weather from climate change impacting farming and our health. This proposal clearly qualifies as a critical national priority."

And farmer and landowner Philip Abbatt, explained falling crop prices, rising costs and climate change were bringing uncertainty.

"The stable income from the solar farm would underpin the survival of the business and allow the next generation to continue farming with confidence in a changing world," he said.

The meeting heard the site is 300 metres from a scheduled monument, the site of a medieval moated hunting lodge.

Council officers said the applicant had "failed to provide sufficient information" on the development's potential impact on archaeological assets.

But the meeting heard a re-submitted plan could be recommended for approval.

Mr Grubb urged the committee to concentrate on the "specific point" on which it was rejected "rather than letting it jeopardise a proposal that is otherwise described as acceptable and will bring huge benefits".

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This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.