A controversial application for a solar farm in Minety has been deferred for more information on how it would affect flooding and land drainage, as well as an assurance that people will still be able to use a right of way which runs across the land.

The proposed solar farm on Moor Lane Farm, which would contain 16,000 solar panels and produce a generation capacity of 4.5MW, was recommended for approval with conditions by the planning officer when it came before the Northern Area Planning Committee.

The application was deemed to have a lack of information by councillors following opposition speeches at the meeting in Chippenham on April 20.

Niki Dow, 41, who owns Willow Equine Ltd next door to the site said: “There wasn’t a lot of support for it and half the councillors did not agree with it but they wanted to give the solar farm company the chance to present more evidence and agree conditions.

“There didn’t seem to be a really positive approach to the farm. In fact there were a lot of concerns about a number of things including the road infrastructure, height and weight restrictions and flooding.

“In his speech supporting the site James Wallwork said the company would provide hay from the site which several of the councillors, one a farmer, laughed at.”

At the meeting, it was confirmed that the 9.2 hectares farm would be in operation for 30 years and once this time period had expired would return to its former state.

Ms Dow, who spoke against the application at the meeting said: “They said that the farm would be covered up from view by bushes and trees but that would only be in the summer months.

“They also said they would plant some trees but they would take 10 to 20 years to grow to a height which would cover the farm!”

Minety Parish Councillor Charles Cook also spoke against the plans.

After the speeches, Cllr Toby Sturgis proposed, seconded by Cllr Terry Chivers that the application be deferred and brought back by the committee as soon as possible, once additional information had been submitted to the council for consideration.

Additional information was requested on the risks of flooding and land drainage, detailed access drawings, a Full Construction Management Transport Plan including details of deliveries and compounds, and proposed routes for cable and connections.

The committee also requested that at the next meeting the application would confirm that the ground in the site would not be raised and that the public would continue to have safe access to the right of way.

After the meeting Ms Dow urged residents of Minety to do their research on the proposal and its potential effect not only on Minety, but the surrounding villages.

She said: “If you don’t want the solar farm, you need to write an objection letter and send it in. By doing this you will get all the information about future meetings and results. Now is the time to do something.”

For more information about the application, contact Matthew Pearson on 01225 718013.