Stop Lime Down Solar Park – residents ramp up campaign against solar battery site in Whitley

THE campaign to stop a solar battery site from being developed in Whitley has ramped up, with the plans facing strong objection from local residents, Melksham Without Parish Council, and local MP, Michelle Donelan, citing concerns which include the size of the development, loss of green land, flooding risks, fire risks, light pollution, noise and impact on ecology. 

The battery site would store electricity from a solar power development, Lime Down Solar Park, which would cover 2,118 acres (857 hectares) across five sites on agricultural land to the north of the M4, southwest of Malmesbury. The developers, renewable energy company, Island Green Power, has said it would provide around 500 megawatts (MW) of electricity – enough energy to power around 115,000 homes.

Villagers turned out in force recently on a walk around the site in Whitley, led by MP Michelle Donelan and Councillor Phil Alford. Thirty-five residents also attended a recent Melksham Without Parish Council planning meeting to have their say, and others have joined the local protest group Stop Lime Down Solar, with many signing the group’s petition to stop the plans.

The battery site is considered to be national infrastructure. As a result, Wiltshire Council will not decide on the plans, but the decision whether the site can go ahead will be made by the government.

Michelle Donelan MP said, “While I am a huge advocate for all green forms of energy and I have proudly supported our net zero ambitions – this proposal is completely unsuitable for our area.

“I have walked the site myself in Whitley and I have met with the developers and I strongly believe that the proposals are unacceptable and will completely dwarf Whitley and the surrounding area. While we do need much more solar panels on buildings, shops and homes, I believe that the location is unacceptable as it is agricultural land, the proposals are humongous, susceptible to flooding and will cause a lot of problems with traffic.”

Peter Richardson, chair of the Community Action – Whitley and Shaw (CAWS) group, said, “The whole village is united against this. It’s simply not the right place for a development of this size. And if it gets planning permission, this will be a brownfield site for evermore; it will never go back to being a green field.”

Helen Burns, whose home is just 100m from the proposed site, said, “Our house would be unsaleable if this goes ahead. There is so much other land around, why are they proposing to put this development so close to the village?”

Patrick Bollen who has lived in Whitley all his life and whose parents also lived in the village, said, “I used to play in this area; it’s not the right site for a development like this; it will be a real eyesore.”

Public consultation

Members of the community have also attended public consultations run by the team working on the Lime Down Solar Park, to give their views and ask questions.

“My main concerns are around the fact we could have 200 shipping containers of lithium; it’s a fire risk; there would be a loss of heritage and it is so close to Grade II listed buildings,” said a resident at the public consultation on Thursday 11th April, at Shaw Village Hall.

The resident said, “I am concerned that not enough is being done by Wiltshire Council. I know they can’t approve or object to the proposal, but in my view, I think they could be far more all over it.”

Five sites

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.

Another resident who is against the plans said, “I think this is being developed in a preposterous place. It will be high up on a prominent hill. The run off from this hill has flooded the village of Whitley. We already have battery storage at the Beanacre substation. I am very against this, it’s in totally the wrong place and will spoil the view.”

Noise was also among the residents’ concerns. Another local resident said, “There is already some noise from the fans at the Beanacre substation; I am concerned this is going to cause more and the building work will cause noise too.

“I know we have to do something about renewable energies but why can’t this be built on a brownfield site?”

Praising the community for sharing their views at the recent parish council planning meeting, chair of the planning committee, cllr Richard Wood, said, “I was delighted with the excellent turnout of parishioners.

Flooding and noise

“Everyone had a say, and the comments were all well considered and supported. Chief amongst the concerns were the probability of more flooding in Shaw and Whitley, noise and light nuisance, loss of agricultural land, loss of landscape (the battery array would be on a terraced hill north of Top Lane), serious risk from battery fires and the impact on the local heritage, wildlife, biodiversity and wellbeing of the residents who live in close proximity of the proposed site.”

Strong objections

Local group, Community Action Shaw and Whitley (CAWS) say they “strongly object to the scheme” as “the site is total unsuitable for a battery storage system and we strongly object on that basis.” Along with citing a possible risk of safety incident and water course risks, the group said the plans are not compliant with the emerging joint Melksham Neighbourhood Plan and also the emerging Wiltshire Local Plan. The group said there is also evidence of a medieval settlement in the area, which may occupy the site of a Roman settlement.

Speaking at an earlier Melksham Town Council meeting, cllr Phil Alford said, “This development is completely unacceptable. The scale of it will dwarf Whitley and it is a grotesque industrialisation of the landscape. It will be seen for miles and devastate the character of the village. Putting aside the larger Limedown scheme, this battery site is in totally the wrong location. We must not be putting the huge profits of giant multinationals ahead of food security and the local environment.”

Island Green Power has said stage one of the consultation process has now ended and in the next phase, it will be considering all the public feedback to help inform the ongoing development of the proposals.

In the meantime, a spokesperson for the Lime Down Solar Park said, “Local residents and community members with an interest in the proposals can contact the project’s community relations team directly, by emailing info@ limedownsolar.co.uk or calling 0808 175 6656.”