Shropshire solar power protest group hail support
Campaigners fighting plans to build a huge solar farm say they have enjoyed a huge show of support from local residents.
The Save South Shropshire Countryside group held an exhibition on the plans for a 22,000-panel solar farm on 33 acres of land at Henley Hall Estate, Squirrel Lane, on the edge of Ludlow.
Peter van Duijvenvoorde, chairman of the group, said he was delighted with the turnout.
He said: "We think we had about 80 people there. We didn't really know what to expect but we were very excited with the amount of people who were there.
"We did a lot of leafleting to make sure people were aware, so we had a good turn out.
"We had a lot of members of parish councils at the event and I think there will be some strong messages going back through formal channels."
Mr van Duijvenvoorde said he thought he had seen the back of such large scale proposals on farmland after four were turned down by Shropshire Council in recent months, and government subsidies ended last month.
But to fight the most recent applications, campaigners held the exhibition showing details of forthcoming plans, photos and video of full-scale solar farms and a replica solar panel, in Caynham Village Hall on Wednesday night.
Mr van Duijvenvoorde added: "We think the meeting showed a stark contrast to the one hosted by the applicant – only 20 people were there and 10 were from our campaign group."
But Kronos Solar, the firm behind the plan, say the scheme would have "no impact" on the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
It has said that the site would not be visible from it due to the lie of the land and the screening of trees and hedgerows.
No new grid infrastructure would be needed as the site is next to an existing substation and there are no footpaths or bridleways "across, along or even close to the proposed site. Kronos Solar already operates 25 solar parks in the UK.
