Potterne debate hears Wiltshire 'is a dumping ground for solar farms'

Wiltshire Council's strategic planning committee was discussing plans to build a 218-acre solar farm near Devizes.

The Potterne Park Farm site is between the villages of Potterne, Urchfont, and Easterton and just 1.5km from the One Tree Hill, where councillors rejected plans for a solar farm on May 30.

Referring to the fact that Wiltshire Council had exceeded by 39 per cent 2030 solar target of with 820MW of solar capacity, Cllr Chris Brautigam (Southwick, Reform UK) told the committee "Wiltshire is a dumping ground for solar farms. We've already done our bit." 

Cllr Brautigam was not alone in opposing the scheme. The council's own officers were recommending refusal on archaeological grounds. 

Applicant Potterne Solar Project Limited had "failed to provide sufficient information to access the potential impact of the proposed development on archaeological assets within the site," they said.

The site is 300 metres from a scheduled monument - a medieval moated which was part of a hunting ground - along with a number of neolithic round barrows.

Cllr Chris Newbury (Wylye Valley, Conservative) asked "So I assume if we do refuse this today on that one reason, then they go away and do the work, it comes back to us recommended for approval - is that right?" 

"Absolutely," the planning officers told him.

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The meeting then heard representations for and against the proposal from members of the public. Steve Holt of Potterne Solar Action Group - a local campaign group established to fight both solar farm applications - said: "We welcome the planning officer's recommendation to refuse but today we urge you to strengthen the reasons for that refusal. 

"It is in the wrong place. One month ago a refusal notice was issued for One Tree Hill. This is the same landscape, the same valley, and the same ecosystem. But this proposal is three times larger, and the impact will be even greater."

Peter Grubb of applicant Potterne Solar Project said: "This proposal is for a clean energy generator brought forward at a time when fossil fuel power stations are being phased out, electricity demand is rising sharply, and international conflicts continue to leave us exposed to volatile gas prices. 

"We're also seeing extreme weather from climate change impacting farming and our health. This proposal clearly qualifies critical with national priority, and that is recognised by the government."

The meeting also heard from farmer and landowner Philip Abbatt, who said: "I have lived on a farmed this land for 31 years. The stable income from the solar farm would underpin the survival of the business and allow the next generation to continue farming with confidence in a changing world."

And ward councillor Dominic Munns (The Lavingtons, Conservative) posited: "Should the grounds for refusal be extended? In my view, yes."

Councillors then discussed various ways in which the objections could be "beefed up".

Cllr Howard Greenman (Kington, Conservative) suggested borrowing a reason for refusal from the One Tree Hill application, as they referred to the same landscape: "The proposed development would result in significant and unacceptable harm to the character, quality, and visual amenity of the local and wider landscape."

But that was not deemed enough. Cllr Newbury alighted on the 2017 Potterne Neighbourhood Plan, which covers the south west part of the proposed site. The policy gives priority to agriculture and tourism and, argued Cllr Newbury, a solar farm would be "contrary to the plan" and "a third reason for refusal."

The motion was carried and the application refused on the officer's original reason, together with the two amendments.