Campaigners battle solar farm plans near village

The 271-acre solar farm is planned for land either side of the A449 near Powick, Worcestershire

Campaigners fighting plans for a 271-acre (109.7-hectare) solar farm near a village argue it would harm landscapes and wildlife.

The Preserving Powick Land and Nature (PPLAN) group said the scheme, on land either side of the A449 near Powick, would disrupt views of Worcestershire's Malvern Hills, put a strain on roads and pose fire risks from batteries used for energy storage.

Bente Klein, from the energy firm behind the plans, RWE Renewables UK Solar & Storage Ltd, said the proposed site was near the National Grid network and trees and hedges meant there would be no major effects on views.

A Malvern Hills District Council spokeswoman said they could not comment during the planning process.

Campaigner Peter Loader said: "The sun doesn't always shine and the wind doesn't always blow."

He said the plans meant "massive" battery storage was needed which he claimed was a fire risk.

Meanwhile, fellow campaigner and resident Andrea Trickett-Born said the solar farm would be visible from Powick and the Malvern Hills.

Adding that food security was a national issue, she said: "I do think there is a better place for solar panels and it's on roofs, it's on public buildings, it's on schools, it's on warehouses, on car parks - anywhere else that's not just taking up available, usable farmland."

Andrea Trickett-Born said there were better places for solar panels such as roofs, schools and car parks

However Ms Klein, from RWE, said the biggest risk to food security was climate change, adding: "If we're not actually tackling climate change, then food security will be even more difficult."

She said the scheme needed to be as close to the National Grid network as possible and the site was "the best and most suitable" for the project.

The council spokeswoman said the application for a solar farm and battery energy storage system at Monksfield Farm, Monksfield Lane, Newland, was submitted in January.

She said the authority recognised the role of renewable energy in supporting sustainability and national energy objectives.

Proposals must be balanced against issues such as the landscape, heritage, agriculture, biodiversity, access and the views of the local community, she added.