Villagers say they aren’t hopeful ahead of a decision to build a solar farm on 75 acres of countryside in Nottinghamshire.
Foxholes Solar Limited, which is part of SSE Renewables, is looking to build a solar farm on land near the village of Norwell.
The applicant says that, if constructed, the solar panels could generate clean, renewable energy for approximately 16,580 UK homes.
A decision on the proposal was due to be considered by Newark and Sherwood District Council at an extraordinary planning meeting on Monday (27 April); however, a council error has delayed the meeting until 7 May.
Mandy Montgomery, who walks her dog, Meg, along a public bridleway that runs next to a beck, said she feels the decision is a “done deal”, with the plans having been recommended for approval.
“I’m not against solar farms, but I’m sure there are other fields than the ones that are directly near the village,” she said.
She said she feared for the wildlife, including deer, that roam the fields, as well as the glare from the panels as the sun rises over the hills.
“My biggest concern is that, when they are constructing it, they may close the road, and it will mean miles of diversion,” she added. “It will be a massive safety issue on the narrow roads.”
The solar farm is separate from another, bigger project known as the Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park, submitted by Elements Green.
This solar park would feature 1.5 million solar panels and would form a ring – roughly 6.2 miles from north to south – around the villages of Bathley, Caunton and Norwell.
The developer says it could generate enough power for 400,000 homes – more than the entire number of domestic houses in Nottinghamshire.
Iain Gibson, who has lived in the village for 12 years, said he understands the need for solar power and why the countryside around the village is being chosen, as it is close to the National Grid connection in Staythorpe.
He said: “I’m not opposed to solar. If you look at what is going on in the Middle East, we are in a quandary. You’ve got Staythorpe, where it is easy to tap into the grid, so it is the cheapest option to start this next to that.”
However, he added: “It is very close to Norwell, then you have the Great North Road Solar Park; it is a bit of an overload.
“It would be good if they scaled it back and came to a compromise. It is a conservation village. I’ve got a concern about water run-off. It is a very contentious issue.”
Mr Gibson said it would take a “brave man” to bid against the solar farm being blocked.
Speaking of the delay to the decision, Cllr Andy Freeman, chair of the planning committee at the council, said: “It is deeply disappointing that the extraordinary planning meeting for the proposed solar farm at Foxholes Farm near Norwell will no longer take place on Monday.
“Unfortunately, due to an internal error, letters notifying all respondents to the meeting were given the incorrect date. Although the error was rectified on Thursday, we recognise that there is a risk some members of the public might have missed the clarification.
“I would not want to prevent someone from being able to share their view because of an incorrect date, which is why I’ve agreed that the meeting will now take place during the Thursday, 7 May, planning committee meeting.
“This is an error that should not have happened, and we’re putting measures in place to make sure it does not happen again.”
The applicant says the lifespan of the development is 40 years. Upon decommissioning, the panels will be removed and disposed of or recycled, and the land will be returned to its original condition.
