CAMPAIGNING residents will continue to fight plans for one of the UK's biggest solar parks to be built on their doorstep.
The proposals for 60,000 solar panels stretching almost 90 acres on rural land in Little Braxted, near Witham, have appalled people nearby.
The neighbours have only been infuriated further by the claims of developer Lightsource in last week's Chronicle that it made every effort to contact the people affected and was "disappointed" that attendance at a public consultation was so poor.
Lorna Setter, who contacted many residents in advance of the town council meeting to inform them of the plans, said: "I am bemused to learn that Lightsource's Business Development Director has rejected allegations that they failed to consult with the local community, claiming that they had made a "real effort" to contact people in the community before the public consultation.
"The majority of residents in Little Braxted and Wickham Bishops who are directly affected by this huge solar farm application received no notification whatsoever.
"The first they were made aware was when a flyer arranged by myself was distributed throughout the village."
The campaigners claim that the only publicity for the poorly attended public consultation on November 15 last year was in a free weekly newspaper only distributed to residents in central Braintree, nearly 12 miles from Little Braxted.
In addition, a list of those in receipt of one of the 57 Lightsource information packs distributed show that 22 were either business premises belonging to Mr Speakman, who owns the land designated for the park, or his tenants, Mrs Setter claims.
"Lightsource's claims that they want to engage with the local community are disingenuous and cynical," she added. "As the truth is that they have sought to keep as many people in the dark over their plans for as long as possible.
"You saw the strength of feeling among locals at the Wickham Bishops Parish meeting.
"Did that look like a group of people who have been kept well informed and consulted?
"I am staggered that Mr McGuigan, the business development director, has the audacity to make such dishonest claims when we can prove these not to be true," added Mrs Setter, who lives with husband Philip in Wickham Bishops in view of the proposed panels.
The campaigners estimate they have delivered 600 leaflets to the surrounding area to keep local people informed of the development.
But since the meeting of Wickham Bishops Parish Council on Tuesday, March 6, where councillors recommended unanimously to reject the plans, they have heard nothing from Lightsource.
In a letter to Maldon District Council the campaigners express their concerns about the impact of the "foreign" and "alien" panels on the landscape and nearby Whetmead Nature Reserve, as well as the desirability of the area for walkers.
Wol Staines, whose property in Ishams Chase directly overlooks the proposed site, points to a map where crosses mark the spot at which his view is "destroyed" by the thousands of 1.6m-high panels.
"For many years me and my wife opened up our gardens to the public because part of the appeal of this area is the beautiful view and that will be ruined," he said.
"We know this is a David v Goliath battle, and we are certainly the 'Davids', but we will fight on."
