MP Bill Cash urges Government to step in over giant Shropshire solar farm plans

Landowner William Cash and his father Sir Bill Cash MP will write to Amber Rudd, secretary of state for energy and climate change, over the plans to build the 10.71 megawatt solar farm at Meadowley, near Bridgnorth.

The proposed site at Upper Meadowley Farm is close to William Cash's home at Upton Cressett Hall, and he said the Government's planning guidelines stipulated that such developments could not go ahead so close to protected heritage assets.

It comes after planning officers at Shropshire Council recommended that the project is approved at a meeting next week.

Fears have been raised over the impact the proposed development – which would include 12 fibre glass inverter buildings, a plastic substation, 2.4 metre high perimeter fencing and 22 CCTV cameras – would have on listed buildings and the surrounding area.

Bridgnorth and District Tourist Association, Historic Houses Association and Shropshire Area Ramblers are among the groups that have opposed the scheme.

But 12 letters of support have also been submitted by people who believe the solar farm would play an important role in green energy production.

A five-year campaign against a wind turbine in the same area ended successfully earlier this year when the plans were withdrawn.

William Cash said he would be writing to Ms Rudd before the plans go before Shropshire Council's south planning committee on Tuesday November 2.

He and his father have already written to Shropshire Council planning chiefs raising their concerns.

William Cash said: "We think it is quite clear the council is wrongly interpreting clear government planning guidelines in regards to large solar parks on unspoilt countryside in prime Shropshire tourism area, especially so close to heavily protected heritage assets.

"I am confident Shropshire's councillors who have previously rejected similar solar parks will be persuaded by the objections of such organisations as the Bridgnorth and District Tourism Association and reject the proposal, just as the Planning Inspectorate recently rejected a smaller proposal at Tasley outside Bridgnorth.

"The Government recently made it crystal clear good quality agricultural land is not suitable as a site for a giant industrial solar park, especially not within 600 metres of one of the county's heritage jewels with three grade I listed buildings, a historic deer park and three scheduled ancient monuments.

"We have had letters of objection from the Bridgnorth and District Tourism Association, Historic Houses Association and English Heritage."

In a report to councillors ahead of next week's meeting, Shropshire Council case officer Kelvin Hall says: "On balance it is considered that, given the level of environmental benefit that the proposal would provide, including those associated with renewable energy production and also significant biodiversity enhancements, these impacts on the visual character of the area would not be unacceptable."