Shropshire villagers hit back at solar farm plans
Residents fear their village is being targeted after plans for more than 16,000 solar panels on farmland were revealed.
Joanne Lees said it was vital the countryside around Tasley, near Bridgnorth, was left unspoilt.
The plans for the solar farm, by Green Switch Developments Ltd, for High Trees Farm, include an electricity sub-station and cover 20 acres of land.
The solar farm, which could also include a mounted CCTV system and security fence, could power up to 1,200 homes.
Mrs Lees said: "Yet again we find Tasley being targeted and this time for a solar farm. To suggest that the land on Church Lane is suitable is just ridiculous.
"Were it not for my fellow residents I too would have been unaware even though this application impacts directly on where I live.
"Please let's leave Church Lane as the pleasant and quiet country lane that it is and leave solar farms to more suitable locations.
"I urge everyone in Bridgnorth to join together to preserve our countryside and object to this application."
John Jenkins, from Tasley, whose land backs on to the proposed solar farm, said a campaign group had been set up to protest against the plans.
He said: "So far there have been 72 comments on the council's website, which have all been objections.
"We are still working out how to co-ordinate our own objections because it has just been thrown at us.
"We need to get something out quickly and we have sent posters to all the people living locally."
The solar farm would see cabling feed into the control building from across the site, which would be housed within the cavities of the building's foundations.
Materials for the solar farm could see 100 lorries making deliveries for up to four months.
The components would be carried from a track bordering the site, off Church Lane.
The agents said the road would be suitable to support the vehicles using the local road network during construction.
Josh Hellawell, a planner at Green Switch, said although the electricity would not directly benefit people living locally, the solar farm could supply power for up 1,200 of homes.
But he said supplying power to homes locally was not an option because it would involved building several expensive power sub-stations.
Star comment: Choices are stark on energy
