Residents’ views needed over village solar battery site plans

RESIDENTS are invited to have their say over plans for a solar battery storage site which could be built in Whitley, at a public consultation next month.

The battery energy storage system is being delivered by renewable energy company, Island Green Power, and will be known as Lime Down Solar Park and could be built on fields to the north of Whitley, by Top Lane. The developer has said it would provide around 500 megawatts (MW) of electricity – enough energy to power around 115,000 homes.

The main solar park element is proposed to be built across five sites comprising agricultural land of approximately 857 hectares (2,118 acres) located to the north of the M4, southwest of Malmesbury.

A sixth site is located on land near the National Grid Melksham Substation near Beanacre.

At Melksham’s full town council meeting on Monday 18th March, cllr Jon Hubbard said, “We don’t know what the landscaping arrangements are yet. Before we [worry] that our village countryside is going to be destroyed, we just need to check out exactly what it is. We are at the very early stages of the consultation process.”

Cllr Phil Alford said the project would be a ‘huge development’ that would be visible to the north of Melksham.

He said, “I know there are a lot of residents in Melksham who do go up to Whitley for a walk around. I encourage everyone to have a look [at the plans]. The decision won’t be taken by Wiltshire Council, it will be made by the Secretary of State because it’s considered to be national infrastructure. The local planning authority [can only take the decision] if it’s below 50 [MW]. It will be hard standing on the edge of a hill, which you can see from Melksham.”

‘Eyesore’

Residents have raised concern on social media about the proposal, citing loss of wildlife, increased risk of flooding and proximity of lithium batteries to residential areas.

One resident said, “If you walk up to where this is planned, you realise that it will be visible for miles; it will be an eyesore for lots in Shaw and Whitley. Walks in the fields up and around the ridge will be dominated by it.”

Another added, “I think everyone in the village will be affected by this, especially if they like to walk around our wonderful local countryside.”

Public consultation

Urging the community to take part in the consultation, the clerk of Melksham Without Parish Council, Teresa Strange said, “This is just the first stage in a series of consultations until an eventual planning application. We understand that the developers of the scheme are still in their fact-finding stage, and are undecided if the best site for the battery storage. Wherever it is, there will still be underground cables connecting the solar farm sites to the electricity substation at Beanacre.”

The nearest public consultation for Melksham will take place on Wednesday 11th April at Shaw Village Hall, The Beeches, from 2pm to 6pm.

There is also a consultation at Corsham Town Hall on Wednesday 10th April at 3.30pm to 7.30pm.

You can also write or send the feedback form to FREEPOST Lime Down Solar, with no stamp needed and there is also an online public consultation via Zoom on Wednesday 17th April at 5.30pm to 7pm.

Melksham Without Parish Council has asked for a copy of residents’ comments and suggestions in order to be abreast of the community’s views.

“Please also send thoughts on any projects and schemes that any community benefit payments could assist, if the project goes ahead,” says Teresa.

“The parish council will be considering its submission to the consultation at its planning committee meeting on Monday 8th April at 7pm at its offices on the first floor of the Campus. All welcome.”

Further details can be found on the Lime Down Solar website: https://www.limedownsolar.co.uk/