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MPfights rural solar farm plan Poetic bid to


ALMOSTthree quarters of respon- dents to an MP’s questionnaire are opposed to a plan for a solar farm on the outskirts of Marden. MP Helen Grant wrote to a ran-


domselection of 1,000 householders, canvassing their views on a plan to build a 25-acre solar farm atWide- hurst Farm, Thorn Road. Of the responses received as we


went to press, 69% were against, 22%were in favour and9%were un- decided.However, fewer than a fifth of the questionnaires had been re- turned. The Maidstone & Weald MP has


now turned up the heat in the fight to prevent solar farms blighting the landscape. An application currently before Maidstone Council is for 25 acres of panels and associated buildings, in- corporating about 20,000 sheets of black glass, directly alongside pub- lic footpaths. The application is from theWide-


hurst Energy Company Ltd, in tan- dem with sustainable energy company Susenco in Oxfordshire. Part of it would sit on land next to


plant hire company P J Burke, at Moatlands Farm, Howland Road. Mrs Grant said: “I am a supporter


of renewable energy technologies, and solar panels have their place, but


not on the green fields of Kent. There are an estimated 250,000 acres of south-facing roofs in the UK resi- dential sector alone, not to mention a veritable sea of unused space on the roofs of commercialwarehouses and other large buildings. In France they even use supermarket car parks; shade for cars and shoppers plus re- newable energy from the panels – good solution. “I urge the applicants to pursue


these alternatives and leave our Wealden countryside alone. I will be writing to Maidstone Borough Council with the results of this sur- vey in the hope that the planning committee will listen to the voices of the large majority of local residents who responded.” The responses included an array


of additional comments, the most common from the opposition being the unsightly effect on the land-


The land earmarked for a solar farm at Widehurst Farm, Thorn Road


scape. Some of the comments in favour


of the application sent directly to the council come from residents in the Marden area who attended a recent public exhibition – butmanyof them have come from addresses in other areas of Kent and in London. The MP said: “In 2010, I made a


pledge to the people of Maidstone& TheWeald to do all I could to protect our precious countryside from inap- propriate planning proposals. Itwas a promise I have kept and I am proud ofmyrecord, publicly oppos- ing certain housing schemes and some commercial developments.” Mrs Grant said there were occa-


sionswheneconomic arguments de- served to win the day – particularly if they preserved and created jobs. However, she felt that Wealden agricultural land did not fit into this category.


support panels THE proposal inspired Pam Burke, of Moatlands FarmBarn, to put pen to paper and produce poetry: “We support this application To generate power to help the nation. We hope it will not spoil the view; We’ll hide it withsomebushes new. We all need power to charge our phones And notebooks, laptops and our homes. We also have a hybrid car Which uses up a bit of power. We grow some barley and some wheat Andhavesomegrass to grazesome sheep. The field of solar is quite small; We think it won’t impact at all. Let’s use the sun that shines away Working for us day by day Generating lots of power – Well maybe not when there’s a shower. We’ll cut emissions, improve air The benefits are everywhere Less nuclear waste and fumes and smoke – A cleaner world for all us folk.”


Kilburn Jewellers have a passion for creating customised jewellery.


Now with over 30 years experience in the jewellery trade Simon and David have a vast portfolio of pieces they have produced. Kilburn Jewellers initiative was to create both unique & bespoke designs and to select key quality pieces to compliment these designs, such as clocks and gift ware. Kilburn Jewellers pride ourselves on offering expert advice from design ideas through to knowledge about metals/gemstones, by trained and qualified staff.


Kilburn Jewellers, 30 Royal Star Arcade, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1JL Telephone 01622 677841 | Email info@kilburnjewellers.co.uk | Website www.kilburnjewellers.co.uk Maidstone South December 2015 13


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