Opponents of a plan to create the UK’s biggest ever solar farm at Wroughton airfield have welcomed today’s confirmation that Secretary of State Eric Pickles has decided that a public inquiry has to be held into the massive project.
This follows Swindon Council’s shock decision in December to give itself planning permission for 160,000 panels to be built on 170 acres of the North Wessex Downs, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
It was said that the proposal would be referred to the National Planning Casework Unit, and Secretary of State Eric Pickles will have 21 days to review it.
And now, as climate change and future energy supplies have hit the headlines, it has been confirmed that a public inquiry will decide the future of the project.
Henry Oliver, director of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, told Marlborough News Online: “As we have made clear from the outset, this proposal would have an unacceptable impact on this nationally protected landscape, and in particular on the setting of historic Barbury Castle, which is a country park popular with local people and a key point on the Ridgeway National Trail.
“We welcome the recognition of these important issues and that the matter will receive proper consideration by the Secretary of State for the Environment.”
Mr Oliver said at the time: “It is no secret that we are dismayed by Swindon Council’s decision. This is an unprecedented assault on a nationally and internationally recognised protected landscape.
“The council’s position is in direct conflict with its statutory duty under Section 85 of the Countryside Rights of Way Act 2000 to have regard for the purposes for which the North Wessex Downs was designated an AONB.”
And he added: “We are now considering our options, but we made it known some time before the application was considered by the committee that, were it approved, we would ask the Secretary of State to call it in for his determination.”
The development is a joint project between Swindon Commercial Services Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Swindon Borough Council, and the Science Museum Group, which owns the site and uses it to store 30,000 objects from the reserve national collections.
Last month, Byron Carron, chairman of the Council of Partners of North Wessex AONB, wrote a letter to Swindon Borough Council protesting that its decision had been taken against the clear expert advice of the ANOB unit, which the council as a member, employs to advise it on landscape issues.
“The proposals are also strongly criticised by Natural England, English Heritage and the Council’s own landscape architect,” he pointed out.
“The harmful impact on the nationally protected landscape and the historic monuments and sites that lie within it would be severe. In particular, the proposals would do great harm to the setting of the nationally important Barbury Castle Iron Age hill fort and a number of surrounding scheduled ancient monuments.
“I note the irony that Barbury Castle is a country park owned and run by Swindon Borough Council itself…Barbury Castle is also a key site along the Ridgeway National Trail.
“National Trails are designated partly on the basis of the high quality landscapes through which they pass, encouraging wider public access and enjoyment.
“The impact of the proposed development on the significance and integrity of Barbury Castle and other historic sites would by extension harm people’s enjoyment of this stretch of the Ridgeway.”
And Mr Carron declared: “That Swindon Borough Council has seen fit to treat one of the country’s finest landscapes, which lies within its stewardship, with such contempt is a disgrace. “It raises grave questions about the Council’s commitment to the North Wessex Downs AONB Partnership.”
