THE developers behind plans for one of Britain's biggest solar power parks in the Essex countryside have rejected allegations that they failed to consult with the community.
The bosses at Lightsource, which wants to build a 35-hectare solar development outside the village of Little Braxted, say they made every effort to contact people in the community ahead of a public consultation but hardly anyone turned up.
Conor McGuigan, the company's business development director, said: "It was actually very disappointing when we had such poor attendance at a public consultation roadshow last November.
"We had contacted 57 residents as well as councillors, but hardly anyone turned up to the event, so to be criticised at our meeting last week is difficult when we made a real effort.
"There was one oversight with a resident in Wickham Bishops who does have a view of the park but we have since made amendments to address that.
"We fully intend to keep on engaging with residents. We want a good relationship with them when the site may be there for 25 to 30 years."
At the heated meeting on Wednesday, March 6, representatives from the company faced a crowd of angry villagers who branded the plans "disingenuous" and a "sham". Resident Lorna Setter claimed that without her concerted effort to inform people of the plans, no-one would have been aware of the project's true scale.
However, a list of invitees to a consultation event on November 2 last year included Wickham Bishops district councillor, Henry Bass, but he did not attend despite voting to recommend refusal at last week's meeting.
When contacted by the Chronicle, Cllr Bass said he did not recall receiving an invitation.
Mr McGuigan said: "It was a tense and fraught meeting from what I can gather, and I had two rather pale faces return to the office. There are always some people who have a reflex reaction but we do also understand how personal developments such as these can be. They have to be located somewhere but unfortunately most people don't want them in their back yard.
"However, to date, we have been successful in negotiating with those affected, and have a good relationship with those living near our solar parks. That's always the aim."
The business development director claims that out of 54 applications lodged by the company, only one has been subject to refusal and this is as a result of a rigorous process of selection.
He said: "We look at the impact on visual landscape, capacity on the National Grid and the views from nearby properties.
"Placing an application with the council can cost thousands of pounds and we won't bother if we believe it will be rejected.
"We absolutely want to have a good relationship with our neighbours," he added.
The proposed site at Little Braxted, in an area bordering Witham, will include 60,000 solar panels with a planned output of 15 megawatts – enough to power more than 4,000 homes.
However, amendments have already been made to the plans to reduce the impact on residents in neighbouring communities.
Lightsource has increased the distance between the panels and the site boundary to 30 metres, the height of the panels will not exceed 1.6 metres and a significant planting plan will minimise any affect upon nearby Whetmead Nature reserve.
Nick Boyle, the company's CEO, said: "It has been made very clear in recent times that solar is a key component in the UK's drive towards its renewable energy targets.
"Renewable energy sources and schemes such as this to be implemented in Little Braxted need to become an integral part of our domestic power output if we are to achieve the Government's target of 15 per cent of the UK's electricity being generated from renewable sources by 2020."
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