CAMPAIGNERS breathed a sigh of relief last month after plans to build a solar farm near Broughton Gifford were withdrawn.
Glastonbury-based firm British Solar Renewables had applied to Wiltshire Council for permission to build a solar farm on a 40-acre plot of land near Melksham Lane, to the east of the village.
The company announced in January that it had withdrawn the application “for now.”
Broughton Gifford parish councillor Martin Freeman said, “We are delighted that British Solar Renewables has decided to withdraw its application.
“The village overwhelmingly opposed it. We have more than our fair share of solar farms here.
“BSR hasn’t told us why it changed its mind. Maybe it was the opposition. Maybe they realised that the site wasn’t viable, or maybe they had other projects they wanted to focus on.
“BSR has teased us a little by saying they’ve shelved their plans ‘for now.’ We hope this is the end of the matter, but we’ll keep a close eye out for any future developments.”
Campaigners and villagers had turned out in force to object to the plan, and a consultation at the village hall in August saw over 100 people register objections to it.
The firm is one of a number of solar energy companies who have tried to build in the area. One of the UK’s biggest solar farms is currently being built to the east of Melksham, and there have been controversial applications and developments in Little Chalfield, Broughton Gifford, and Norrington Common, where a local resident is taking a developer to court.
