News | Solar energy
downsmail.co.uk Learn from KIG on solar farms
LESSONS learned from Kent International Gateway should be applied when looking at the future of solar farms in Kent, a public meeting heard. Almost 200 people packed into Headcorn Village Hall to discuss the protection of the Weald in re- sponse to the increasing number of applications for large-scale solar farms.
Richard Knox-Johnston, former chairman of CPRE Protect Kent, said it was important that Maid- stone Council took on board its ex- periences from the massive fight against KIG near Bearsted – suc- cessfully defeated four years ago. Marianne Bailey, from Headcorn,
voiced her concerns about the ap- plication to build a solar farm at Great Tong Farm, Headcorn, rais- ing four pertinent questions.
Solar update NOVUS Solar has been given plan- ning permission to install solar pan- els at Court Lodge Farm in Forge Lane, East Farleigh. The panels would be up to3mtall, mounted on fixed frames on land laid to grass east of the farm buildings. Maid- stone Council granted consent on condition all associated structures
She said: “How much longer can
Kent be called the Garden of Eng- land if we are to lose the beautiful countryside around us? Will our present open access be restricted? Will we lose prime agricultural land – and what will the visual im- pact be and will it affect tourism in Kent?” Paul Barwell, chief executive of
the Solar Trade Association, said: “In the right locations, well- screened, then applications can go through unimpeded.” He said only 5% of any land was directly impacted – by the struts supporting the panels – which means sheep could graze as before and wild flower meadows could be developed to encourage bees. “This can be a good
way to isolate and protect species that have suffered from inten-
are removed within six months of electricity no longer being generated. Planning permissionwas granted to
install solar panels into the ground at Elderden Farm, Chart Hill Road, Sta- plehurst. Maidstone Council felt the scheme, which will produce 50kw of energy to aid hop engineering at the farm, was acceptable on condition that the structures are removed once they are no longer in use.
sive farming,” said Barwell But hewarned: “We have a loom-
ing energy crisis in the UK.Within three years, the lights will go out. We have to find otherways of gen- erating electricity without relying on oil, coal and gas.” Maidstone’s chief planner, Rob Jarman, said the council had no de- sire to see solar farms sited on good quality agricultural land, prefer- ring brownfield sites and poorer quality agricultural land. He said: “The need for low car-
bon energy does not necessarily override environmental factors and applications in areas of outstanding natural beauty and national parks need careful consideration” Mr Knox-Johnson maintained the correct place for solar panels was on the roofs of buildings or in the side chancels of churches and
The go-ahead was given for the
erection of solar panels on land at Wanshurst Green Farm, Battle Lane, Marden. The 2.25m installation will be to the east of farm buildings and south of woodland. It would gener- ate 250kw of power to enable en- ergy generation for the farm and the national grid with any surplus. Marden Parish Council objected to an “urbanising feature” in the coun-
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16 Maidstone South July 2014
cathedrals, often grade one-listed buildings, where they could not be seen.
“Solar panels should not come at
the expense of the countryside,” he said.
Decision welcomed
CAMPAIGNERS fighting a poten- tial plan for a solar farm in Head- corn have welcomed a decision by the communities secretary Eric Pickles to refuse a large solar farm in Suffolk because itwas unsightly and a waste of arable land. ProtectOurWeald, which boasts
500 supporters from the village, Ulcombe and East Sutton, opposes a move by Solar Securities to put panels on 157 acres at Great Tong Farm.
tryside. But Maidstone Council officers, backed by the planning committee, said harm caused to the countryside would be “very limited”. Planning permission was granted
to install solar photovoltaic units in Jarmons Lane, Collier Street. The scheme will see the units placed on the south elevation of Foxbrush Barn.
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