Plans for a major solar park in Tonbridge have been given the green light by the council - despite concerns about it being built on green belt land.

The park will be installed on Hadlow Place Farm in Sherenden Road, Tudeley and will power over 4,000 homes in the surrounding area.

The 64-acre development will be built on green belt land and includes over 40,000 panels which will generate enough energy for 25 years.

At a planning committee meeting this evening council members discussed concerns over the possible impact of the park.

Planning officers claimed plans were 'sustainable' and that any harm that may occur would be temporary.

A local resident, Mr Fenton, said he doesn't believe the park will be temporary and will continue to remain on the site after the initial 25-year period.

Speaking at the meeting held in the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council chambers, he added: "The applicant had said the lease will be 25 years but they have the option to apply for an extension to take it to 50 years.

"The development has no intention to restore the site after 25 years so why are you considering on going ahead with this? The harm made to green belt land will be for a lengthy period.

"They should be installed in areas they do no harm to. You are going to open the flood gates to destruction for 50 years."

Cllr Pattison commented that the council recently refused an application for a similar solar park at Capel Grange - located approximately a mile-and-a-half away - and believes this proposal is no different.

Addressing planning officers he said: "The council refused the Capel Grange solar park plans. I can't see how this site is any different. I also can't understand why the site selection process has been confined to Tunbridge Wells."

Several councillors also questioned whether the site selection process had been questioned by planning officers, as they believed the majority of plots had been suggested by the applicant - British Solar Renewables.

Planning officers said extensive research had been carried out in a bid to find the most appropriate site.

Following a previous public consultation on the matter the council received 14 letters of objection. Respondents raised concerns over loss of agricultural land, the size of the park, the intrusiveness of the panels, and the possibility that the building of this development may set a precedent for other developments on the land.

Cllr Ward also questioned whether the energy produced by the solar park would be transferred straight into the national grid. He said: "The object of the development is to provide power to 4,500 homes.

"If another site half way to Geneva was chosen, and another park placed there, could that supply the same amount of energy to Tunbridge Wells? If so, there must be better sites that could satisfy demand" - Cllr Ward...

"If another site half way to Geneva was chosen, and another park placed there, could that supply the same amount of energy to Tunbridge Wells? If so, there must be better sites that could satisfy demand."

Angus Macdonald, from British Solar Renewables replied: "The energy that would be produced at this park would go to the nearest substation and be utilised by the nearest community.

"It is the most efficient form of getting energy to this area."

Councillors visited the site of the proposal today, and several commented that the new development would be 'virtually invisible'.

Many elements of the proposal were classed as 'inappropriate' for green belt land, but planning officers stated the benefits of the park and special circumstances outweighed this.

Six councillors voted to approve the application and five voted for refusal.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Macdonald said: "I am absolutely delighted that plans can now move forward. I am ever concious of the announcement today that there is serious problems with energy in the UK and this is a tremendous step towards supporting this cause.

"We will be starting work sooner rather than later and we look forward to providing Tunbridge Wells with energy."

The applicant behind the Capel Grange proposal which was refused by councillors, has appealed the decision.

If successful in the appeal and plans are given approval, combined with the Hadlow Place Farm development, there would be enough energy created to supply in excess of 10,000 homes in Tunbridge Wells, a number that Cllr Ward said is a 'considerable surplus'.

What do you think? Leave us your comments below.