CAMPAIGNERS are vowing to do all they can to stop a massive solar farm being built near Preston on Stour.
TGC Renewables Ltd are looking to build the farm – the equivalent around 55 football pitches – on farmland owned by John Smith and Rex Harding.
But recently formed Group Against Radbrook Solar Plant (GARSP) say the proposed 98-acre farm on land off Admington Road would spell disaster for the village and its residents.
They are concerned the greenfield site, which is made up of agricultural farming land and is overlooked by a Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), would be destroyed by the plans.
They also maintain the farm, which would operate for 25 years, is close to various ancient woodlands, the Grade II* listed Radbrook Manor and the Scheduled Ancient Monument, mount and hill fort of Meon Hill.
And with the farm potentially being made up from panels of up to 3m high, they are worried about the visual impact it could have on the surrounding area.
The group has organised a meeting tonight (Friday) at Quinton and Admington Village Hall where they are inviting people including local residents to find out more about the plans from 7pm.
They will also be holding another meeting at Preston on Stour Village Hall from 7pm to 9pm next Monday (June 8).
But it’s not a case of nimbyism according to spokesperson Kevin Byass.
He said: “We’re not against renewable energy, and we’re not against solar panels, provided they’re in the right place.
“People from across the area have come together in the combined belief that Preston-on-Stour is the wrong place to put 98 acres of steel, plastic and glass.
“It is not Government policy to use valuable agricultural land when brownfield and industrial sites should accommodate these plants and this is a greenfield site near an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with two nationally famous long-distance footpaths.
“We will be fighting the plans and encourage anyone who wants to join us to come along to the meetings.”
The group has also created a Facebook page ‘Say no to Radbrook Solar Plant’ and a Twitter profile @GARSP2015.
And they are encouraging others to register their objections by writing letters to Stratford District Council or visiting the planning portal at www.stratford.gov.uk/eplanning before June 30.
The application is currently undergoing a consultation period and is set to be considered sometime around August.
