AN exhibition to inform residents about a solar farm proposed between Downton and Alderbury has been branded a “whitewash”.

About 50 people from Downton and the surrounding villages attended the public consultation held by Hive Energy about proposals to build on 200-acres of land at Witherington Farm, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) next to the A36 and close to the hamlet of Standlynch.

If approved the park would be one of the biggest projects of its kind in the UK, producing enough electricity to power 12,000 homes each year and cut annual carbon emissions by 17,200 tonnes.

But the former chairman of Downton Parish Council Chris Hall said: “The exhibition was not hugely informative and could be called a whitewash.

“The meeting was not advertised to the general public properly.

“When you walk the public footpaths abutting the site the views are magnificent so everywhere you can see from the site you will be able to see the solar farm. In view of the change in elevation of this north-west facing site, no amount of hedges or trees around it will hide the industrial landscape it will produce. It is on a prominent hillside adjacent to a SSSI. “This application will have much wider implications for the district not just Downton. I am aware that solar power is being encouraged by the Government – I do not have a problem with this.

“But most sites I have seen are smaller, well screened and once built have very little impact on the surrounding landscape unlike this one.”

However, chairman of Downton Parish Council Dave Mace said he was keeping an open mind.

He said: “I thought the exhibition was interesting and well laid out. There was some interesting information about solar panels and the location at Witherington Farm.

“We need to wait for a detailed planning application.”

Hive Energy has consulted with Natural England on protecting the SSSI along with Wiltshire Council’s Public Rights of Way warden and the Highways Agency.

Julian Pertwee from Hive Energy, said: “While we had a range of views at our event as you’d expect, the overall tone was a positive and constructive one. It was really valuable to listen to the view of people living nearby face-to-face, and if anyone was unable to make it there’s still time to give us your views.

“As well as making clean energy for 12,000 homes and preventing 17,200 tonnes of harmful CO2 emissions each year, the site would be carefully incorporated into the existing landscape and encourage biodiversity. Home-grown energy sources also help reduce the UK’s reliance on energy imports that have been impacting energy bills in recent years.”

For those unable to attend the event, the consultation period on the project ends on December 8. Visit hiveenergy.co.uk/witherington.