'Shropshire is under attack' – Actor backs petition against planned solar farm

An actor is backing a petition against a planned solar farm in south Shropshire – saying the county is “under attack”.

Energy firm, ILOS has announced plans have a 22.2 megawatt solar farm at Upper Walton Farm, near Onibury.

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A full planning application is expected to be submitted in November after planning firm Gravis Planning approached Shropshire Council about the plans in February.

At the time of writing, nearly 2,000 people have signed a petition by the Keep Shropshire Beautiful campaign group, who are opposing the plans.

A spokesperson said: “We support renewable energy. We do not support putting it in the wrong place, on land that has been farmed with the environment in mind for decades and is home to confirmed protected and declining wildlife.

“There is already a solar farm within 3km of this site. Shropshire Council’s own planning officers have identified this as a cumulative impact that needs to be properly assessed, yet the council has so far ruled that this proposal doesn’t require a full Environmental Impact Assessment.

“We believe that decision should be reconsidered given the evidence already gathered.”

The farm’s tenant – Rob Alderson – feels “the rug is being pulled from under my feet” over the plans, with local councillors the the MP for South Shropshire, Stuart Anderson, also joining the fight against the proposal.

Now, actor and impressionist Alistair McGowan – who lives in south Shropshire – has aired his concerns.

“Shropshire is under attack,” he said.

“Across this county, like so many counties, developers are targeting thousands of acres of good quality farmland and beautiful countryside to use as industrial solar farms.

“And this invasion seems to be gathering pace every day.

“The headlong rush by successive governments towards solar and solar farms really, to meet their targets of renewable energy, is enabling developers to monetise and industrialise the countryside without any regard for the people that live there, for wildlife, the history, or the beautiful landscapes. Which is what makes places like Shropshire what they are.

“This move away from fossil fuels, we know is vital, but as a former proponent of solar and all things solar, like solar farms, I now find myself thinking, ‘is this really the way to go’?”