Concern raised over solar farm connection to Melksham substation

A residents’ group for Shaw and Whitley has raised concerns about plans to connect a proposed large-scale solar farm to Melksham substation. 

Community Action Whitley and Shaw (CAWS) has raised concerns about the Lime Down Solar project at a recent full council meeting of Melksham Without Parish Council.

The group cited fire risk, flooding, impact on biodiversity and increased noise and traffic. It also raised concerns about the cumulative impact of several solar energy schemes on the villages.

The proposed Lime Down Solar Park covers around 1,237 hectares of land between Malmesbury and the M4. It includes solar arrays, battery storage facilities and a 22km cable route corridor through the county to Melksham Substation in Beanacre.

Melksham Without parish councillor and CAWS chair Peter Richardson said, “Shaw and Whitley sit downhill, downstream and down-network from the main Lime Down sites. That means floodwater, construction disruption and even pollution risks all tend to flow towards the villages.”

CAWS highlighted particular concern about the 22-kilometre underground cable route needed to connect Lime Down to the substation.

Peter said, “Although the cable will be buried, the construction phase would involve deep trenches, haul roads and repeated crossings of small streams and field drains – all in an area with an exceptionally dense drainage network.”

The group also warned about the build-up of battery storage sites around Melksham.

Peter said, “The villages of Shaw and Whitley face serious risks from the proposed Lime Down Solar Park – not because of the solar panels themselves but because of the combined impact of the Lime Down scheme and the dozens of other energy projects now clustered around Melksham at various stages of planning, construction and operation.

“Fires at these facilities can burn for days and produce toxic smoke and contaminated fire-fighting water, which could enter the same system that drains land around Shaw and Whitley and provides local drinking-water supplies.

“Freedom of Information responses from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service show that detailed planning and preparedness for battery fires in this clustered area remains uncertain.

“We support renewable energy but cumulative risks must be properly assessed before any decision is made on Lime Down or any other scheme affecting the area.”

The Lime Down Solar project has attracted 4,958 objections submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.

The first public hearing into plans to build the solar park will be held in April.

Pictured: Peter Richardson Chair of CAWS