Plans for a huge solar park on farmland close to Watchet must be stopped in their tracks, MP Ian Liddell-Grainger has warned.
He says if the development is allowed a huge swathe of attractive landscape will be irretrievably and permanently scarred.
He described as ‘deeply cynical’ an argument by the project’s backers that the scheme would only be ‘temporary’ and accused landowners the Wyndham Estate of resorting to corporate greed.
Somerset planners have already rejected the proposal for the solar farm north of Tropiquaria Zoo on the A39, citing damage to protected landscapes and the loss of high-quality agricultural land.
But now developer Elgin Energy has appealed the decision. It claims the solar farm would provide around 25 million kWh of electricity per year – enough to provide power for 7,500 households - and says with landscaping its impact could be reduced to an ‘acceptable’ level.
But as local objectors gather for a public protest meeting this week-end Mr Liddell-Grainger, MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset, said that was a ludicrous claim.
“No amount of landscaping is going to hide the fact that this would be a vast and highly visible intrusion into relatively unspoilt countryside,” he said
“You might as well claim that you could use landscaping to reduce the impact of the radio masts at Washford Cross.”
The MP said he was encouraged by the strength of opposition to the project, including that voiced by the CPRE.
“It shows that public opinion is overwhelmingly against the proposal. And I suspect most people will feel outraged that attempts are being made to hoodwink them with deeply cynical claims that the development is only temporary - and that the land will be returned to full agricultural use in 40 years.
“At a time when we face losing so much of this country’s low-lying farmland to regular winter flooding we need to preserve as much as we can of the rest. This is high-quality, highly-productive land which must be utilised for food production.
“I am very disappointed - though not surprised - that the Wyndham Estate has turned its back on its long and distinguished record of supporting agriculture in Somerset and instead is indulging in corporate greed with a project which will put farmers out of business.”
(PHOTO: A typical Solar Farm elsewhere in Tiverton & Minehead Constituency)
