MORE than 100 concerned residents rallied on Norrington Common last weekend, to protest against solar farm development in and around Broughton Gifford.
The meeting, arranged by the action group Wiltshire Protect, took place on Saturday 20th September at the recently-built solar farm beside Norrington Lane. They met to discuss objections to more solar panels being erected on land west of Ganbrook Farm in Little Chalfield, and in fields adjacent to The Common in Broughton Gifford.
An amendment to the site’s planning permission, which would have seen 72 CCTV cameras installed at the Norrington Common site, was refused.
Local man Dan Gerber said, “We want this construction to be removed, and further development around Broughton Gifford to be prevented, before they ruin the countryside.
“The site is just 45 metres from Grade II* listed Gifford Hall; a 55-acre solar farm has no place here. English Heritage were not consulted, and local knowledge was negligible. These huge fenced off, noisy farms should not be built en masse on what was previously productive farmland and public footpaths. The number of people here – especially as a proportion of the local population – is proof of the devastating effect on the community.”
Dan Gerber said he was most frustrated that the decision to build the farm was approved by a single planning officer without properly consulting local residents, and he is worried that the same will happen in Broughton Gifford and Little Chalfield.
Broughton Gifford resident Julie Bush said, “We don’t oppose solar power, but it’s unfair to have so many farms in such a small area. We’re campaigning to stop the Broughton Gifford area being peppered with the farms because it’s clearly having a huge impact on the local community.”
Prospective local Conservative MP Michelle Donelan was at the demonstration and said, “This isn’t a protest against the development of solar power, but an issue of local people wanting control. There must be more decision-making powers given to the residents so they can choose what is right for the area. It’s unfair to put so many farms in close proximity without giving those who live here a say.”
The protest was arranged by Wiltshire Protect, which is campaigning against the 817 acres of solar farms that have been proposed within a five mile radius of Seend. To find out more go to www.wiltshireprotect.co.uk
