THE fate of a controversial plan for a solar park at Awre will be decided next Tuesday (January 19).

The recommendation to the Forest of Dean District Council’s planning committee is that permission for 185,000 ground-based panels is rejected. If granted, the panels would be sited at Guy Hall Farm on approximately 80 per cent of a 250 acre site.

Reasons for refusal include it not being visually in keeping with the area, there are no public benefits noted and there is insufficient information on the impact upon the biodiversity and ecology of the area.

However the applicant, Awre Peninsular Farmers’ Community Solar Ltd, has suggested offering community benefits but these have not been formally submitted to the council.

Rural property advisors Smith Gore state the land around the panels would be maintained by grazing sheep. The area will also benefit from new biodiversity areas and supported by beehives as well as areas to encourage wildlife.

The panels, which would be capable of producing nearly 50 megawatt of electricity, would be mounted on fixed aluminium poles.

Although an initial landscape and visual assessment concluded the impact on the wider landscape impact would be minor, further analysis said as the plans are within a ‘valued landscape’ it is unacceptable and will significantly harm the character, appearance and landscape.

Almost 200 signatures objecting the application has been sent to the planning committee for consideration as well as a further 305 letters from neighbours. Two letters of support claim the application would not only provide jobs but produce clean, green electricity in a secluded location.

The plans can be viewed at www.fdean.gov.uk stating reference number P0664/15/FUL.