Solar farm proposed for Moorlands

A planning application has been lodged with Staffordshire Moorlands district council for a proposed solar energy farm.

The proposed development is for land at Greenfields Farm, Thorney Edge Road, Bagnall.

In the Cheddleton ward of the district council.

The solar farm of approximately 1.5MW with energy storage capacity of up to 57MW on 4.25 hectares.

At the development over 2,200 solar panels would be mounted on metal frames.

On August 6th Cheddleton Parish council has lodged its objection to the proposal during the consultation saying

“STRONGLY OBJECT ‐ In the middle of the greenbelt and is overlooked especially from Wetley Moor so will not be screened completely. Potential Hazard to human life, inaccessibility, and loss of amenity to the local population and no demonstration that the benefits are significantly more than the harm. This should go to Planning Committee for the decision. Also, the technology is changing at pace.”

Bag all parish council has also objected against the plans saying

“ Bagnall Parish Council STRONGLY OBJECTS to this application. Whilst we are fully aware of the importance of securing future energy, we also have an obligation to preserve the environment for future generations. The scale of this development is horrendous and if granted, will encourage other similar developments to blight the area. This agricultural land is not only Green Belt, but also an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This type of technology would be better place on brown field sites, such as Conrad Energy Chatterley site where the ancient gene pool of native flora and fauna has long since been destroyed.

The Parish Council respectfully requests that this application is put before the Planning Committee and not left to the delegated decision of an individual planning officer. The WHOLE matter of battery storage units and solar panels across Staffordshire Moorlands should be considered as one assault on the Green Belt and countryside.”

Public consultation ends on the 19th of August. Comments can be added on the district council website.