Solar farm decision under fire

THE decision to grant permission for nearly 28,000 solar panels on over 40 acres of land at Marley Thatch Farm, near South Brent, was made through delegated planning powers.
The company in charge of the solar panels is Glasgow-based The Green Company Renewables.
TGC has drawn up the plans and says it hopes the site will be producing electricity by the end of the year.
The completed solar farm should provide enough electricity to power about 2,500 homes.
But some local people have questioned the decision to grant the application through delegated powers.
Richard Howell, said: ‘Recently Teignbridge Council met to consider a similar application on a site less than 30 miles to the north to build a solar farm on 40 acres of farmland next to the A30 at Goldcross Hill, just to the west of Tedburn St Mary, again overlooked from Dartmoor National Park.
‘While acknowledging there would be some negative impacts from the proposed development, council officers again felt these would be sufficiently localised that the benefits of the scheme would be overriding and recommended permission be granted.
‘Significantly, the officers concluded the impacts on the wider landscape would be quite limited.
‘However, like both North Huish and Diptford parish councils in the case of Marley Thatch Farm, the Tedburn St Mary Parish Council disagreed.
‘Consequently the application was referred to the democratically elected members of the planning committee for consideration.
‘By 15 votes to five, councillors refused permission, giving as their reason the adverse impact on an area of great landscape value.
‘An impact many might consider no less severe than that which is about to be inflicted on the northern skyline of the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natu-ral Beauty at Marley Thatch Farm.’
A spokesman for South Hams Council, said: ‘Delegated powers are used by councils all over England to decide planning applications, including those where there are some objections.
‘In this case, the decision was made by officers in consultation with the ward member and the vice-chairman of the planning committee. The application was widely publicised and local people were encouraged to give their views.
‘There was a full debate at South Brent Parish Council and no objections were raised. Dartmoor National Park Authority and Harberton Parish Council also raised no objections.
‘Concerns about the proposal were expressd by North Huish and Diptford parish councils and their views were considered.
‘A report on the decision is available on the South Hams Council website.’

Source:http://www.ivybridge-today.co.uk/news.cfm?id=25441&headline=Solar%20farm%20decision%20under%20fire