Shropshire Star

Campaigners to fight plans for Shropshire solar farm

A campaign group has been formed to fight plans to install more than 16,000 solar panels in the Shropshire countryside.

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More than 50 residents living in Tasley, near Bridgnorth, say the plans would destroy the countryside and have a major impact on people's lives.

The Keeping Tasley Green Action Group is calling on support from councils to back their campaign to use green energy in a more appropriate area.

The 20-acre solar farm, which could also include a mounted CCTV system and security fence, could power up to 1,200 homes.

The plans have been put forward by Green Switch Developments Ltd for a site at High Trees Farm, near Tasley, and include an electricity sub-station.

John Jenkins, speaking during last night's Bridgnorth Town Council meeting, said: "The panels would be up to three metres in height but they would still be most notable from the west direction.

"They would also be seen clearly from the A458 and from Aldenham Park.

"Numerous people walk in this area and there are any number of places where this solar farm could be built, rather than destroying the beautiful views of Shropshire.

"The land is also arable and the amenity is not just used by people living in Tasley but for people walking their dogs from Bridgnorth, or those who go on bike rides from Church Lane.

"The community is virtually unanimous that this plan should not happen."

Kelvin Arlett, who is also a member of the campaign group, said the group was not against renewable energy but against the problems the solar panels would have on the current site.

He said: "The panels could go up on anything, like brownfield sites, on hospitals or maybe the new cattle market in Tasley.

"This should remain an arable site and we should all look for alternatives."

Councillor Vanessa Voysey said she felt it was an issue for Tasley Parish Council and Shropshire Council.

She said: "I have a read a lot of comments about this and I do have a strong personal view about it, but I don't think we, as a council, should be commenting on it."

Councillor Connie Baines said solar farms were making the countryside look stale and dead.

She said: "I know we need this type of development but these panels should be built on agricultural land."

The town council agreed to inform planners at Shropshire Council it was sympathetic to the views of residents living in Tasley.

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