Protesters to be out in force to oppose Shropshire solar farm bid

Villagers in Neen Sollars, near Cleobury Mortimer, were meeting today to decide what action to take as councillors decide whether to allow the the 14,200-panel development at High Point Farm.

A number of campaigners plan to hold a silent protest while councillors visit the site on Tuesday before the controversial bid is discussed at a meeting of Shropshire Council's south planning committee later that day.

The Neen Sollars project is the fourth major solar farm proposal in the south of the county to be decided upon in recent months. Three others – at Whitton near Ludlow, at Acton Scott near Church Stretton, and at Tasley near Bridgnorth were all turned down, either by the committee or planning officers.

All three had strong objections from campaign group Save South Shropshire Hills – and the Neen Sollars application is no different.

Graham Clayworth, a nearby resident and member of Save South Shropshire Hills, said: "There will be some of us holding a dignified silent protest at various locations around the site, and we have also asked that the planning committee visit some of the locations from where the solar farm would be seen.

"We are hoping the committee will take a similar view on this one to the others. Though it is not in an area of outstanding natural beauty we are really concerned about it, and we will be speaking at the committee meeting."

He said the campaigners' own experts were disputing claims by developers TGC Renewables that the panels would not have an adverse impact on the landscape and that the site was mostly lower quality farm land.

The application has received 231 letters of objection, including Milson and Neen Sollars Parish Council, with only 35 in favour of the development. The application is recommended by planning officers to go ahead.

James Jamieson, senior planner with TGC Renewables, said the development could power the equivalent of 1,250 homes. He said: "The site is well screened in the local area, minimising landscape and visual impacts. Overall, it has been chosen as it will make a substantial contribution to renewable energy targets while the special qualities of the surrounding area are protected.

"The landowner would continue to use the land for grazing, so the proposals represent an additional income stream, helping to support that business as well as the wider rural economy." A community benefit fund would also be payable to Milson and Neen Sollars Parish Council for the first 10 years of the project's operation, he said.

The plans will be discussed at a meeting at Shirehall in Shrewsbury on Tuesday.