A SOLAR farm with is to be built in a section of unspoiled farmland in the north Cotswolds despite strong objections from residents.

The application by BELECTRIC Solar for the 66,000 panel, 9.35 hectare solar farm on land to the north of Badsey Lane, Willersey, was permitted unanimously at Wednesday’s meeting of Cotswold District Council despite the authority having received 99 letters of objection to the plans and only 12 in support.

Sarah Bent, owner of a bed and breakfast near the proposed site, said the application had “little regard for the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty”.

“The close-knit farming community which surrounds the site will be greatly affected,” she said.

Co-chairman of a resident’s group formed to oppose the application Simon Evans said, while the organisation was in favour of renewable energy in principle, he was opposed to the application.

“The site will have serious impact on wildlife and the area will be left barren,” he said. CDC’s ward member Cllr Mark Annett (Con) said he felt the application had “no regard for the quality of the countryside”.

“Tourism is one of the main industries and it is vital that solar panels are not brought into the area,” he said.

His colleague Cllr Sue Jepson (Con) agreed, saying: “Badsey Lane is a great example of mixing tourist accommodation in the open countryside and farming.”

However, Liberal Democrat member Cllr Margaret Rickman (Chesterton) said she was firmly in favour of the application, saying: “I’m quite bemused by the attitude of some of the comments”.