Energy boss predicts scores of solar farms for Shropshire

He spoke as it was revealed there are now 10 separate plans to turn fields in Shropshire into sun-powered stations.

Richard Green, of Lark Energy, runs the UK's largest solar farm at the former Wymeswold airfield, near Loughborough, on behalf of owners Foresight Solar.

He urged communities to embrace the idea and predicted scores of solar farms in Shropshire within years.

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He said: "There is no reason why any solar farm should have any visual impact because there are plenty of sites you can choose from.

"The great thing about this is all other activities can still continue going on around it. Sheep graze and in fact prefer it because the panels offer some shelter. Lamb and wool production continues and in our case the rest of the estate continues as it always did."

Solar farms are currently planned for sites in:

• Telford

• Wrockwardine

• Condover

• Whitchurch

• Tasley, near Bridgnorth

• Acton Scott

• Burlton, near Wem

• Whitton, near Ludlow

• Neen Sollars, near Cleobury Mortimer

• Gobowen

Actor John Challis has given his support to the Save South Shropshire Countryside campaign - which is made up of four groups of objectors from around Ludlow, Church Stretton, Bridgnorth and Cleobury Mortimer.

Campaigners fear the farms could have an adverse effect on the character and scenic quality of the landscape and drive down house prices.

Telford & Wrekin Council plans to make money from a solar farm that is going up at Wheat Leasows. The council plans to produce enough energy from the site to power more than 800 homes and achieve a surplus of nearly £4.5 million over its 25 year life time.

• Which would you rather see in Shropshire: solar or wind farms? Leave your comments below.

Mr Green said: "What the council is doing makes complete and utter sense to me. You can sell the power to whoever you want and you can negotiate with whoever you want. It is potentially a good investment for the community."

There are also plans for an 80,000-panel solar farm capable of providing power to nearly 6,000 houses on the outskirts of Shrewsbury. Plans have been submitted by Bristol-based solar installation company Elgin Energy Esco Ltd to build the solar farm on a development site in Sundorne.

Similar plans for solar farms in Green Farm, about a mile north of Condover, near Shrewsbury, Charity Farm in Burlton, near Wem and Hadley Farm, near Whitchurch, have also been put forward.

See also:

• Plans for two new Shropshire solar farms submitted

• Work set to start on Telford solar farm

• Hopes raised of solution to Whitchurch power problem