FURIOUS residents have accused the developers of one of the UK's biggest solar power parks of misleading them as to the true scale of the project.
The vast development proposed at Little Braxted, on the outskirts of Witham, will cover almost 90 acres, and include 62,000 solar panels, which many locals say will "devastate the natural landscape".
Representatives from the firm behind the project, Light Source, met with a group of angry villagers at Wickham Bishops village hall on Tuesday night, in a last minute addition to a parish council planning meeting agenda.
"You have done nothing to engage with the local people who will be affected by this," resident Lorna Setter told the developers after she had contacted several neighbours to ensure they were aware of the proposals.
"Indeed you have gone deliberately out of your way to mislead and tried to get this through council without anyone knowing,"
There were further allegations that information provided on the project was "disingenuous" and a "sham" in its attempt to demonstrate the panels would be shielded from view.
"I look at this not as a 'farm' but as the biggest industrial estate in Essex planned in the middle of a gorgeous area," said Mike Logan-Wood.
"This is sacrilege and it should never even be considered."
Agent Cairan Dillon, for Light Source, the biggest provider of solar energy in the UK, did his best to address concerns but met with little success.
He assured members of the public that natural vegetation could be used to shield the site, and that the nearby Whetmead Nature reserve would not be negatively impacted.
"We're in the middle of this planning process and there is still plenty of opportunity for dialogue with local people," he said.
"Solar provides the solution to a great need in this country for renewable energy and we're at the forefront of this."
The park would produce 15 megawatts of energy, enough to supply up to 4,500 homes with power and would be one of the biggest developments of its kind in the UK.
Following more than an hour of heated debate, councillors recommended that the project be refused when it reaches Maldon District Council.
County councillor Rodney Bass told the developers: "Go away and rethink this.
"Then come back and properly engage with the community so they have a real opportunity to express their views."
