@emilyhstott

A campaign group in East Langdon is opposing plans for a solar farm on agricultural land.

Anthony Hyde, chairman of The Langdon Action Group says he will be objecting against the proposed 50 acre solar farm at the Old Engine Shed Field on Sutton Court Farm.

He said: “The solar panels will be eight feet high and we’re looking at a field with a view, it would be a great mass of building and the impact will be significant.”

The application by company Lumicity plans to erect the panels on 22.7 hectares of agricultural land between Pineham and East Langdon.

Mr Hyde added: “The solar farm is of such magnitude that it cannot be hidden or disguised.

“It is set in quintessential English landscape, those were the words of planning inspector David Lavender, who upheld DDC, Langdon Parish Council and LAG when they defended the appeal lodged by Ecotricity in 2008 for five wind turbines on the same site.”

The campaign group won the fight over an application for wind turbines on the same farmland in 2008 and are now planning to do the same with the Photovaltic solar farm.

He added: “The quality of the farmland on the Lumicity site is classified Grade II and III and is described by the developer’s own agricultural land classification expert as the ‘best and most versatile agricultural land.’

“Our opinion is that such land should be used for food production.

“If the district council had a proper plan they could put them in the right areas and not make it an offensive blot on the open countryside.

“DDC has alternative sites to consider for solar farms being the brownfield sites at Tilmanstone and Discovery Park.”

Langdon Parish Council held a meeting on January 20 and voted to object the application and Langdon Action Group is now urging residents to submit their objections to the district council.

“The solar farm is of such magnitude that it cannot be hidden or disguised."- Mr Hyde

The ground mounted photovoltaic solar panels will include power inverter systems, transformer stations, internal access track, fencing and associated infrastructure.

Mr Hyde added: “We just want to raise awareness that this is going on and give people the opportunity to have their say.”