Solar farm developer hits back at ‘glass and concrete prison’ claim

THE company behind plans for a huge solar park in the countryside between Newquay and Truro has responded to concerns raised at a public meeting where residents likened the proposed 125,000-panel solar farm to a “glass and concrete prison”.

Representatives of Downing Renewable Developments LLP say the proposed 210acre solar park would actually improve the site – a rural valley at Hendra, near Mitchell – rather than ruining it, as concerned local people fear.

The farm, to be called Fairpark, between Carland Cross and Landrine would have a generating capacity of 49.9MW and run for 30 years.

More than 100 people, including farmers, packed into St Erme Community Centre last month at a meeting to air their concerns about the planning application.

Residents and business owners choked back tears as they spoke of their fears that the solar park – a quarter of the size of Truro – could blight hundreds of acres of countryside and ruin lives and businesses.

Ken Evans, who runs wedding and holiday lets business Hendra Barns, with his wife Maggie in the heart of the proposed solar park site, said: “Since June 2022 our business has been on hold, really.

“We’ve lost a lot of business from people who’ve found out there could be a solar farm here; we lost four weddings last year.

“If it’s allowed and customers Google us all they’ll see is solar panels; I don’t think we will get any more weddings or holidays because people will be penned in. We’ll be enclosed by a fence; it’ll feel like living in a zoo rather than open countryside.”

Others raised concerns about the effect on wildlife, the possible visual impact, flooding from surface water and the loss of agricultural land.

Ameet Juttla, from the company, responded: “It’s not a glass and concrete prison. One of the comments that was made was about the fencing; palisade fencing is only around the batteries in a secluded area, which was chosen specifically to ensure that you can’t see it.

“Apart from that, there will be deer fencing at most. We’re trying to use existing vegetation and hedgerows as part of the screening.

“Deer fencing isn’t intrusive at all; it’s 1.8m high, a common agricultural fence.

“We’ve taken the wildlife into consideration and undertaken all our ecological assessments, and any form of nesting and birds that are there will remain.

“Wildlife will still be able to remain underneath those panels and have a thriving area to live within, so it’s actually making it better.”

With respect to visual impact and reflection from the panels, Mr Juttla said: “The areas that you will see from the A30 are really small and the panels wouldn’t face road users, so there won’t be any glint and glare. You’ll only be able to see the panels in small pockets.

“For example, there’s a house in the south which has farmland and they’ll be able to see the southernmost part of the site. People at Carland Cottages won’t actually see anything due to the lie of the land.

“Hendra Barns are one of the places at the heart of the site. On the plan they’ll have solar around them, but when they’re actually in their property and in their gardens they won’t actually see it because they’re at the top of the hill. They’ve also got a lot of vegetation around their own perimeter, so you can’t see anything.

“It’s a massive thing for us to undertake and ensure that the local planning authority are happy about any visual concerns, especially with the locals, and we’ve done a lot around that.”

The Fairpark application, number PA23/02629, is available to view on Cornwall Council’s planning portal. It could come before a meeting of the strategic planning committee as early as next month.

❝❝ The areas that you’ll see from the A30 are really small Ameet Juttla, representing the company