CAMPAIGNERS who were against an application to create a solar farm the size of 24 football pitches near Ilmington, have been handed a reprieve from development after plans were thrown out.

An 43-acre site at Blackwell Grange Farm was planned for the creation of a solar farm and had been recommended for approval by planning officers at Stratford Borough Council.

Construction would include ground-mounted solar panels for electricity production, together with inverters, substation, a DNO substation, inward-facing CCTV cameras, 1.8m high deer fencing, permeable stone access tracks, temporary construction compound, and landscaping.

However, dozens of letters of representation from concerned residents and walkers as well as members of a campaign group who objected to the plans, persuaded committee members to refuse the application on the grounds that it threatened the character of the landscape.

The development site is not covered by statutory landscape designations but was less than one kilometre away from the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Cotswold Fringe Special Landscape Area. The Centenary Way public right of way lies in close proximity to the site.

Ilmington Parish Council has originally objected to the plans but had withdrawn their objection and issued a "no representation" statement prior to the planning meeting following receipt of an amended plan.

At a meeting of Ilmington Parish Council in February it was heard that 86 objections had been made against the solar farm by residents of the village, though some had been duplicated and it was believed the figure was nearer 56.

One parishioner had said she thought the installation of the solar panels would be an "innovative and exciting approach to renewable energy" and that the impact may not be as bad as some people think.

The result of the planning meeting was good news for campaign group Say No To Solar at Blackwell Grange, who had objected strongly to the impact of the proposed application.

Their website states: "We are not against solar, neither are we NIMBYs. Throughout the UK, this is a simple case of the “right

idea in the wrong place”.

Blackwell resident John Bird who helped lead the campaign against the development said after the planning committee decision: "We know that Conergy have six months to appeal from the date of it being refused. The feeling in the surrounding villages is that they are even more against it now that the planning officer’s decision to approve it was sensibly overturned by Stratford Brough Council.

"Government policy is against the development, the AONB policy with Natural England and the Cotswold Conservation Board is against it, the new Stratford Core Strategy is against it and so is the very vast majority of locals.

"Common sense will ultimately prevail."

Planning agents Pegasus have not yet announced if they will appeal the decision.