CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a ‘totally unacceptable’ solar park in the Malvern Hills District have been slammed by residents.
Proposals have been submitted to the district council to construct the 185,000 panel site but objections were raised as the park would be visible from the Malvern Hills and lies just 5km from the area of outstanding natural beauty boundary.
The development would take place on Woodhall Farm in Wichenford and include substations, a replacement tower, centre station, inverters, cameras and fencing.
A series of letters have been written to the district council since the application was submitted, They highlighted residents’ concerns over the 185-acre site.
Kevin McAdam, of Hill Crest in Knightwick, said: “The development, by virtue of its vast size, will have a totally unacceptable impact on the character and appearance of the area.
“There is a balance to be struck between the desirability of renewable energy and landscape protection and in this case the balance is such that permission should not be granted.
“There are many places in the UK where a renewable resource of such a vast size could be more appropriately located and would not damage a landscape of such scenic character and appearance.”
Carl Armstrong, of St Peters Drive in Martley, added: “The area is good quality agricultural land and is part of a larger area of unspoilt natural beauty.
“Additionally, the amount of heavy traffic generated during the long construction period will form a significant increase in traffic on the local roads, and in particular the B4204 where there is already a history of vehicle accidents.
“This represents a grave assault on the greenbelt and must not be allowed to happen.”
Further letters of concern have been submitted from Wichenford Heritage Group, Worcestershire County Councillor Richard Udall and Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce.
Mike Ashton, chief executive of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, said: “While we acknowledge there are ways the visibility of solar panels can be minimised, the chance this can be achieved with a park of this magnitude seems unlikely.
“Solar panels are notorious for causing significant issues with glare when they are exposed to sunlight.
“Without specific assurances this issue would be addressed, it is hard to see how the farm would not have a negative impact on visitor experience and numbers as a result.”
However Chris Lewis-Farley, landscape officer at MHDC, added: “Development of a site at this scale offers the opportunities for improving woodland connectivity at a landscape scale.
“Fields between existing blocks of woodland could be planted up, improving connectivity and increasing the woodland core habitat value considerably.
“Such planting would be at the expense of areas of land currently allocated for solar panels but such sacrifices, in the long term at least, may serve to soften any visual impact development of the site in the manner proposed might have when viewed from a wider perspective.”
