Concerns raised over large solar farm plans

Concerns have been raised over plans for a large solar farm between Newport and Telford in Shropshire.

Andrew Eade, the Telford and Wrekin councillor for the area, said the site in the open countryside would "slash through historical and ancient rights of way".

He has urged people to attend a consultation event in Lilleshall on 25 June.

The company behind the plans, Greenvolt Power, said the approximate 58 hectare (143 acre) site would meet the annual electricity needs of "approximately 11,000 homes".

Greenvolt also said solar farms can "significantly improve biodiversity compared with intensive agriculture".

It said the land would be returned to farmland at the end of the life of the site.

But Eade said the plans would "have a massive and detrimental impact on Lilleshall's natural landscape", and lead to a loss of much-needed agricultural land.

He added: "Not only would we lose access enjoyed generations, but also prime farm land which will disappear forever, despite developers laughable claims to be able restore the land to agriculture use after 40 years."

The pre-application consultation event will held between 25 June at Lilleshall's Memorial Hall.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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