RESIDENTS have expressed their concerns over plans to build a solar farm on pasture land in Minety that could, it has been claimed, significantly affect the natural landscape.

The plans for the 22 acre solar farm will see an estimated 16,000 solar panels to be installed at Moor Lane Farm, which would produce a generation capacity of 4.5MW.

The decision on planning permission was supposed to be made last year but has been delayed until April 20.

Anne Henshaw, chairwoman of the Campaign to Protect Rural England North Wiltshire and Swindon Group, has said the farm will cause a change in landscape.

She said: “An important point is what we call the accumulative effect. “One solar farm isn’t that noticeable but there are two other solar farms fairly nearby, and together they would definitely result in a change in the landscape.

“The balance is pitched too much towards a small gain in electricity. The other side, the wildlife stuff, can’t be put aside.

“It is downgrading the environment and upgrading economic and commercial gain.”

Anne also argued that if landowners can make money easily by renting fields out to solar farms, it might put people off farming.

She said: “If farming is harder work and they can make more money by doing this, it’s an economic decision.”

Minety Parish Council have objected to the plans. In their objection council clerk Veronica Hourihane said they object due to the “change of use from agricultural land to industrial land and a loss of grazing land, which is in short supply in the area.”

She said: “The plan makes no acknowledgement of flooding along the proposed route of cabling.

“There is a lack of access to the site for heavy goods vehicles as all connecting roads are single track and have weight restrictions.”

Minety residents have also expressed concerns about the plans.

Niki Dow said: “This large solar farm is planned to be positioned in a beautiful part of Wiltshire countryside.

“The land it will cover and smother is perfectly suitable for grazing and or hay making. There are listed buildings adjacent to it.

“Who wants to buy any property next to an ugly thing like a solar farm?

“In Minety we’re close to the water table of the Cotswolds Water Parks, so any rain and the fields are flooded and unusable for a long amount of time.

“This solar farm will increase rain runoff and mean acres of land can’t absorb the water.

“The expert reports suggest further flooding in the area could result from this solar farm.

“I’m not objecting to renewables, but there are much better places. Why use the countryside?

“There are so many acres of buildings that a solar farm could go on top of.”

The committee meeting to decide on the proposals takes place at 3pm, April 20, at Council Offices in Chippenham.