Find, save and share Public Notices that affect you in the area.
Search the Public Notice Portal What is the Public Notice Portal?What is the Public Notice Portal?
The Public Notice Portal carries statutory public notices published in local newspapers and is the fastest and most effective way of finding out what is happening in YOUR neighbourhood.
Search the Public Notice PortalA huge solar farm the size of 38 football pitches will be built near Whitchurch.
G Power Solar Ltd’s proposal is on a 24.5 hectare site at The Beeches, off Alkington Road, near the A41.
Rachael Leather, from Atticus Planning, said the solar farm would produce up to 10 megawatts of renewable energy – enough to power around 3,000 family homes or nearly three per cent of Shropshire’s population.
The panels that will be used have a lifespan of around 40 years and sheep grazing would be maintained around the panels, Ms Leather said.
“Installing the panels involves very minimal ground disturbance; the panels are supported by an upright pole and piled driven into the ground with no concrete foundations,” she said.
Meanwhile, there will be four 20ft and two 40ft Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) units, housed in individual containers, each with a height of 2.6m. The equipment will sit on concrete plinths within a fenced compound.
The BESS, when fully charged, will be able to store up to 12.5MW of power, which will feed into the electricity network, with CCTV cameras on the site.
The existing vehicular access would also be retained and used for both the construction and operational phases.
OTHER NEWS:
- Free canal boat taster sessions this weekend at marina near Whitchurch
- Family's fundraiser for Whitchurch dog with incredibly rare bone infection
- Man's trip to Whitchurch lands him in jail for eight weeks
The scheme received mixed views from members of the public.
“In its present form the application does not make proper provision for the maintenance of the historic byway and does not provide valid reasons for its re-routing,” said John Dodd.
“Its permanent extinction by diversion seems unnecessary and any rerouting should be provided as an acceptable alternative which walkers may choose to use, whilst the original is also kept in place and available to be used.”
However, Dr Ruth Clayton supported it, saying: “I am a near neighbour and there are only positives to this proposal. The sheep will not mind, they just eat grass which is still there. There will be more green energy in this area which is good for everyone.”
Whitchurch Rural Parish Council, meanwhile, supported the proposal in principle, but had concerns about a request to divert a restricted byway.
“It should be noted that the footpath which runs from The Beeches to Dearnford is of historic interest, having been named on the 1841 map and named as ‘Black Lane’,” said a spokesperson.
Shropshire Council case officer, Mared Rees-Jones said that, on balance, it was considered that the benefits arising from the development would outweigh the harm which has been identified as a result of the proposal. Approval was therefore granted.
