PLANS for a 40-hectare solar park near Coombe Bissett have been rejected by the Southern Area Planning Committee, to the relief of campaigners.

The site west of Bake Farm on Salisbury Road had come under intense criticism from the local community for the visual impact that it would have on the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The 14.3MW solar park was recommended for approval by planning officers but councillors felt that the visual impact of a 40 hectare site was too great – something that was reiterated by the parish council.

Landowner Richard Jowett had claimed the solar farm would provide his farm long term security and that it could easily be returned to farmland once the 25-year contract expired.

Chairman of the committee Fred Westmoreland said: “It has such a big impact on the AONB and as always with applications of this size my objection to it is the industrialisation of the countryside.

“We can’t see into the future but temporary planning applications aren’t always temporary and tend to get renewed.”

Both councillors Mike Hewitt and Ian Tomes spoke in favour of the proposal, believing that the need for renewable energy outweighed any negative environmental impact.

Cllr Tomes said: “We are desperate to have renewable energy and this proposal has a miniscule impact on the view.”

Other councillors questioned the quality of the land which the farmer hadn’t specified between the banding 3a and 3b which is the difference between good quality agricultural land and moderate quality agricultural land.

Cllr Richard Clewer said: “With my planning hat on we need to know if this land is 3a or 3b. It is very hard to make the decision without that information.”