THE proposed solar farm on the Purlieu described rather inaccurately as Nibley Mill Solar Farm is halfway between Lydney and Blakeney on arable rolling hillside.

Last year I contacted the developer, a German company called AEE Renewables, and explained that this site was unsuitable and offered to help them look for other sites, preferably of the brownfield variety that would not further distract (literally) from our green and pleasant land.

Not surprisingly and, dare I say it, induced by the obscene feed-in tariff incentive, they have proceeded regardless and are intent on constructing one of the biggest solar farms in the UK, around 100 acres in size.

It will be clearly visible for many miles around, including the opposite side of the Severn.

When the developer gave a presentation to Lydney Town Council, I raised a number of questions, including distraction along the A48 – the developer said that you would only see the solar site for three minutes if you drive at 50 mph (sorry Germans no kph here) along the A48.

In reality, this means that you will see this huge blot on the landscape for approx 2.5 miles. Quite frankly, with the accident record on this particular stretch of the A48, any intended plans for potential distractions would be ludicrous – surely a no-brainer for refusal in itself.

Lydney has already made a recent contribution to renewable energy rightly or wrongly with the Hurst Farm solar scheme.

Make no mistake this further – greed not green – development will seriously impact on the natural landscape viewed by visitors, ramblers, and residents alike.

A number of local business people including the adjacent Forest Oak Farm and indeed others offering accommodation and leisure services have expressed concerns as to how their livelihoods may be affected.

The offer of community benefit made by the developer is derisory compared with the amount of harm that the development would cause and should be viewed as little else than a smoke and (reflective) mirrors sweetener.

There is a welcome consensus of political support against this development from those connected with Lydney Town Council, even my Green colleague Cllr James Greenwood expressed dismay – which in essence just about sums it up.

With regard to this application I would respectfully suggest that it is absolutely imperative that individual members of the Forest Council's planning committee are 100 per cent sure of the circumstances that surround this type of application and are acutely aware of the ever-changing government guidance and legislation.

A question to one-self as to why there appears to be a flood of this type of application may well reveal a simple (and not Green) answer.

– Cllr Alan Preest, UKIP Lydney.