Solar farm could be approved next week (From Cotswold Journal)

Solar farm could be approved next week

1:00pm Friday 8th February 2013 in News

PLANS to build a solar farm in Mickleton could get the go-ahead next week after planners recommended it for approval.

Proposals put forward by MS Power Projects for the installation of twoand- a-half-metre-high photovoltaic panels on land at Norton Hall, just off Broad Marston Road, will go before Cotswold District Council’s planning committee on Wednesday.

Residents are up in arms over the plans, which include control buildings, cabling, twometre- high fencing and a CCTV system. Strong objections have been lodged by Mickleton Parish Council over concerns about flood risk and the impact on the countryside while 118 letters of objection and four of support have been received.

But following concerns from villagers, the applicant has reduced the size of the site from 16,000 panels to 11,500.

Larry Mark, development director at MS Power Projects, said: “It’s a result of our being made aware by the local residents that they have a concern around issues of flood risk.”

Resident Kris Clarke, who has organised a petition against the plans, said it was great news.

“It’s almost reduced the site by a third which is obviously what we want as villagers,” she said.

“We will be happy when we see it’s not there at all.”