Developers questioned over Shropshire solar farm applications

Shropshire Council officers and planners took questions at Norbury Village Hall.

Representatives from German renewable energy firm Kronos Solar and Save South Shropshire Hills group also held rival exhibitions before the Ludlow and Clee local joint committee meeting.

The meeting looked at the proposals for a 22,000-panel solar farm near Henley Hall and another large scale solar farm next door, at Rock Farm, Rocks Green, to the east of the A49 bypass around Ludlow.

Discussions were also held about the council's green energy policy and how the authority rejects or approves applications. Malcolm Price, Shropshire Council's portfolio holder for housing and planning, said the packed hall heard reports from the applicants and planning officer Graham French.

He said: "There was a really good debate about the issues, some of which were dealt with on the night and others we'll have to investigate."

Peter van Duijvenvoorde, chairman of the Save South Shropshire Hills campaign group, which is fighting large scale solar farms, said it had been an interesting meeting.

He said: "New chairman, Councillor Andy Boddington, did a great job holding an extensive question and answer session, which went on for an hour and a half."