Solar farm covering 135 acres rejected by council

A significant proposal to create a solar farm covering 135 acres has been narrowly rejected by the Mole Valley District Council. This solar farm was intended to generate enough power for approximately one third of the homes in the Mole Valley area of Surrey. The council members voted seven to five, with one member choosing not to vote, against the construction of a solar farm that would produce 49. 5 megawatts of energy. The proposed site was located on Cobham Road in Fetcham. Those who opposed the project argued that it was an unsuitable use of green belt land and was too close to ancient woodlands. This decision was unexpected as the planning officers had recommended that the council approve the project, suggesting that rejecting it could lead to an appeal that would cost taxpayers thousands of pounds. The developers, known as Ethical Power, contended that the need for renewable energy was more important than the minor impacts the solar farm might have. They also noted that if the solar farm had been larger, it would have been classified as a nationally significant project, requiring government approval. Councillor Abhiram Mageshsaid expressed that rejecting the proposal was not justifiable based on legal planning considerations and urged his colleagues to make decisions based on reason rather than emotion. Other council members raised concerns about the environmental benefits of green energy versus the importance of locally grown food. They argued that the proposed 40-year lifespan of the solar farm was not a temporary solution. Councillor Simon Budd highlighted that the land in question was of good quality for agriculture, stating, 'The land that you are covering up, it's good quality land that grows food. ' He emphasized that food is currently grown in Fetcham and sold locally, which means it has a very short travel distance. He warned that if this land was covered with solar panels, the community would still need to eat, leading to the necessity of importing food from other areas. This situation illustrates the complex balance between advancing renewable energy initiatives and ensuring local food production remains viable.