A SOLAR farm planned for a field on the edge of Compton Dando has been given the
go-ahead.
Bath and West Community Energy’s scheme will generate an estimated 2.1MW of electricity a year – equivalent to the average energy consumption of 600 homes.
The development on Fairy Hill, within the green belt north of the village, will operate for 30 years, after which the equipment can be removed and the field restored.
The solar panels, up to 1.9 metres high, will be arranged in 21 rows within an L-shaped compound, which will be protected by CCTV cameras mounted on a 2m-high wire mesh security fence.
Underground cables will connect into the electricity grid to the south on Fairy Hill.
The development involves planting 29 trees, an apple orchard and hedgerow to the east of the site, creating a nature reserve area with public access.
Bath and West Community Energy (BWCE) is a not-for-profit community benefit society which aims to cut carbon emissions by increasing local renewable energy generation.
A public consultation by Bath & North East Somerset Council attracted 258 responses, 122 in support and 136 against the scheme.
Those in favour said solar farms were needed for the transition from fossil fuels towards less polluting energy, that a proportion of profits generated would be reinvested in the community, and the scheme would have a limited visual impact on the landscape.
Those against said there was no need for additional green energy due to large-scale projects elsewhere, that it would spoil the area’s rural character and that the beauty of Compton Dando village would be “completely ruined”. Also, the development was not a ‘community’ project as it did not have support from the community.
In its response to the scheme, Compton Dando Parish Council said that many of the comments in support came from people who did not live in the village.
The council was also concerned about routing construction vehicles along Redlynch Lane because of the “dangerous” Redlynch Lane/Charlton Road junction.
The Voice reported in August last year on the concerns of one of the opposing residents, John Dibble, who said objections had been raised by walking groups, horse riders, anglers and wildlife photographers.
He said that villagers opposed to the plans were not against renewable energy but that the Fairy Hill site was a “totally inappropriate location for such an intrusive industrial development.”
At a meeting of B&NES planning committee before Christmas, ward councillor Duncan Hounsell (Lib Dem, Saltford) said he supported the application, stating the need to tackle the climate emergency.
He said many objectors wanted the land to remain the same but there would soon be pressure for extra housing and that a solar farm would be preferable to that.
Cllr Tim Warren (Conservative, Midsomer Norton) expressed concern about the impact of traffic during the construction phase. He was also worried about the impact on ancient verges and ancient monuments and stated he did not consider there were very special circumstances to permit the development.
He proposed that the application be refused, but this was not seconded. Council officers recommended that the scheme be approved due to the need for renewable energy.
The committee voted by seven to two in favour of delegating to officers to permit the scheme.
Pictured, the field that will be used for a solar farm
Compton Dando solar farm plan approved
