News

Solar farm will 'spoil the countryside'

By Laura Nightingale
February 28, 2013

VILLAGERS flocked to a public exhibition to view plans to build a solar farm on a bluebell bank in Winchfield.

TGC Renewables, a solar energy project developer, hopes to set up the solar farm in Bagwell Lane.

On February 22 the company gave a presentation at Winchfied Village Hall to gauge public response before submitting a formal application to Hart District Council.

Dozens of residents attended the event to quiz Roy Amner, development director, on the plans to rent a raised field for 25 years and install 30,000 rigid panels.

The main concern expressed by objectors was the “detrimental visual impact” the development would have on visitors to the village and people who lived there.

Others were concerned that thieves could potentially target the solar panels for their scrap metal value for aluminium and copper.

Farmer George Adams, who lives next door to the site and has lived in the village since 1946, said: “I think it is very sad.

“It is spoiling the countryside.

“There are people who come from quite a long distance to visit Winchfield. I know lots of people that come through that area, including dog walkers, horse riders and children up the canal.”

Andrew Renshaw, chairman of Winchfield Parish Council, described the proposal as a “prison wall camp”.

He said: “It is going to look absolutely awful. The developers say they look to go on land which is not so good agriculturally, but this land is good, so why have they hit on us?

“You do not have to have much of an imagination or sense to find suitable sites.”

During the exhibition, many objectors wanted to remain anonymous fearful for being judged as “nimbys”.

One Bagwell Lane objector said: “Should this go ahead, God forbid, the traffic going in and out of the area is going to be terrible and the proposed fencing is hideous.

“The thought of tuning it back to agricultural land after the 25 years is ridiculous. Apparently Winchfield can generate 3.16 kilowatts a day, but other places including Alton and Bristol can generate more.

“It needs to be in the right area, there are plenty of other areas.”

Another villager said: “It is a nice drive through the village and in the spring the banks are full of bluebells. It is very pleasant and would take a long time to grow back.”

It is proposed that lambs will be farmed on the same site.

The Hartley Wintney Solar Action Group committee and the Hartley Wintney Operation Noah Group welcomes the plan.

Paul Tomlinson, of the Solar Action Group, said: “It is perfectly reasonable to expect solar to form part of the UK’s energy mix.”

Mr Amner has promised that there would be no exterior lighting on the site and to prevent vandals and thieves, a 3m high fence would border the panels and infra-red CCTV would be installed.

Mr Amner said: “The solar panels are entirely passive so there will be no noise and no glare.

“It will provide solar energy, and also will maintain the agricultural land.”

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Most recent user comments 9 of 9

Usual NIMBYism! Lots of Hart Councillors live in Winchfield/Dogmerfield, so this is unlikely to get through their planning unless it's in a different area!

Pond-life, Fleet
06/03/2013 at 14:12

I think house prices are driven by what the market will stand as opposed to what they cost to build. It would certainly reduce the profit of the developer but if it was mandated from high enough up, then everyone would have to do it. It has to make sense !

Hector
02/03/2013 at 16:09

DJM87 - A good idea but we can't afford the houses they build now so ones with solar panels will cost £££ more

pjt
02/03/2013 at 07:49

I agree with you pjt, turning the energy from solar and wind to Hydrogen is a much better idea. But people will still moan about having the solar farm on their door step. Dave 2009's idea of getting developers to have solar pannels installed as standard is a great idea and something i have been saying for a long time. Take the QEB estate 900 homes if they all had solar panels, how much power that make. But can you see taylor wimpey spending that much money.

DJM87
01/03/2013 at 20:10

dave2009. Renewables are generally MORE expensive because the electricity generated gets a higher price per unit than traditional methods of generation. Anyway, how much power will this put into the grid when its winter, the sun has set, temperatures plummet and we all put our heating on - the answer is ZILCH!!! Same with wind power - stationary when we need it most - cold, windless winter days. Solar and wind should be used to generate Hydrogen which can be used as a power source - not fed into the grid.

pjt
01/03/2013 at 17:52

People moan about energy prices, but always moan about when anyone tries to build the alternatives. I know wind turbines and solar panels aren't the prettiest but they're going to be a necessary evil in the coming decades.

Although I firmly believe the govt should look at introducing a scheme where all new builds have to have solar panels installed as standard (where possible) which would go some way to helping.

dave2009
01/03/2013 at 08:35

We need more of these solar panel sites to be put, as well as winchfield they should put them in alton and bristol. Not sure why people are worried about traffic as once they are built there is very little maintance. I saw one these when i was out riding last year and they dont look that bad. Agreed they dont look as nice as a medow or woodland. But they look much better than a great big coal powered power station or tall wind turbine which can be seen for miles. I dont understand why people are against these projects we all us and need electricity and these projects are better for all of us.

DJM87
01/03/2013 at 08:06

That was the first thing that came to my mind too Codger. At the end of a long day commuting and worrying about what "others" were going to be doing in their "back yard"; one neighbour (and only one) would be able to kick back and relax with a nice cup of tea.. haha My guess is that it should be MEGA watts