Residents against 'prison camp' Comhampton solar farm plans

Canterbury-based Tyler Hill Renewables wants to cover 64 acres of farmland in Comhampton, near Ombersley and Sytchampton, with rows of solar panels.

Residents and businesses said they are against the solar panel farm because the country needs to become self-sufficient and cannot lose its grade-one agricultural farmland.

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Resident Anthony Jordan said: "I feel it not so much for me but for my family, my daughter and my grandson and the impact it can have on the world for the future.

One of the fields that could have solar panels on. (Image: NQ)"It is disappointing, but it is the order of how the world works."

About 350 people have so far signed the petition against the farm.

Some worry about the impact on the village, which was recently voted as one of the most desirable, and narrow roads that are unsuitable for large vehicle access. 

Resident Nicky Deakin said the land has nine public walkways and, to accommodate, the provider will section off places with metal fencing to allow them to pass through. 

Around 350 residents have signed up against the plans so far. (Image: NQ)"For the people that walk it, it will feel very enclosed and then you'll lose the people who go to enjoy the great outdoors.

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"For the people (living) around it, you'll see what looks like a prison camp - it is like industrialisation.

"We have chosen to say solar panel plant because it is not a farm - a farm is a nice soft connotation they are not growing anything and it is not a natural use of the land."

Stewart Adams, head project manager at Tyler Hill Renewables, said the temporary solar farm would improve biodiversity by over 30 per cent and allow the land to recover from years of intense agricultural use.

"We have to change how we get our energy, and we can do this whilst also producing all the food we need," he added.

"We can build all the solar farms the Government has said we need to on less land than we use for golf courses today.

"We can even use solar farms to feed the country too, by grazing sheep on them like we plan to do at Comhampton Solar Farm."

"Our proposals are very carefully designed and supported by the advice of transport experts, who will work with the council to ensure that the low volume of traffic required to develop a solar farm is carefully routed and happens during times when the local road network is at its quietest."