Battle on Shropshire solar farm plans hots up
Another site in the Shropshire countryside has been earmarked for solar panels, it was revealed today – as the row over solar farms heated up, with actor John Challis speaking out against them.
A screening application has been lodged by TCG Renewables for solar panels at Rockhill Farm, Greete – just down the road from a 43-acre plan at Whitton, near Ludlow, that Mr Challis had spoken out against.
The Only Fools and Horses star, who leant his support to the Save South Shropshire Countryside campaign earlier this week, took to Twitter to vent his frustration over the new plans.
He wrote: "For Gawd's sake, news now of another proposed solar panel factory, only 200 metres from the first one, on 25 acres of arable farming land.
"I honestly think they're all going mad.Why not just concrete over the whole country?"
Mr Challis supported the campaign group, made up of four groups of objectors from around Ludlow, Church Stretton, Bridgnorth and Cleobury Mortimer, after speaking out against an application for a 43-acre 'solar park' at Whitton, near Ludlow. Peter van Duijvenvoorde, chairman of the Save South Shropshire Countryside group, said: "The actual site is probably only about 300 yards from the first (Whitton) site.
"It's right on the border of the area of outstanding natural beauty, opposite the drive into Whitton Court, which is a grade I listed building.
"It's only got to the screening stage at the moment, so hopefully they won't go ahead with it."
He said he was grateful for Mr Challis's support. We very much welcome it – anything we can do get it in the public eye and make people aware," he said.
However, the actor has come under fire from some for comments that solar farms were "disfiguring the countryside for massive profit".
On the Shropshire Star website, one commenter said: "Since when has the countryside not been used for profit? Profit's not a dirty word."
And Aaron Gartside added: "Heaven forbid we get sustainable energy happening! Would you prefer fracking or solar? I know which I would prefer!"
Another commentator said: "Presumably Mr Challis doesn't use electricity in his non-Shropshire humongous country pile, or if he does the power used grows on trees."
But Mr Challis, who lives near Wigmore on the Shropshire border, stuck to his guns, tweeting the Shropshire Star with a picture of a solar farm next to one of a field of cows with hills in the background.
He said: "Spot the difference. People come from all over the world to marvel at our landscape."
Mr Challis tweeted further: "My objection is to the ugliness of solar panel installations. I care about the area of outstanding beauty."
