PLANS for one of the UK's biggest solar power parks in the Essex countryside were rejected on Monday.
A round of applause echoed around Maldon Town Hall as councillors voted against controversial plans for the 35-hectare "industrial park", which would have included 60,000 solar panels on agricultural land at Little Braxted, near Witham.
But the victory for local campaigners is only temporary as the final decision will be taken by district councillors of the Planning and Licensing Committee later this month.
"Our country is already under threat with pressure from the government over building more and more housing," said Cllr Robert Long during the debate at the North West Planning Committee.
"We have 78 objections to this plan and if we actually listen to local people then there is no argument at all," he said.
Many of the objectors attended the meeting to express their concern at the impact of the plans from renewable energies company Lightsource on what is regarded as an area of outstanding natural beauty.
"It would have a huge detrimental impact on the local area and take a decade to grow enough hedgerows to shield the view," resident and parish councillor Graham Bendall told the committee. "The plans have been both conflicting and misleading in their information throughout."
But the opposition was by no means unanimous, with words of support and disappointment from landowner Kit Speakman, and planning agent Cairan Dillon.
"The land was selected for its high demand of electricity and low visual impact. This park would provide power for around 4,500 homes," said Mr Speakman, who is also vice-chairman of Little Braxted Parish council.
"It has a number of similarities with Bradwell Wind Farm which was rejected and later approved by appeal, so I believe the council should avoid another costly appeal case for the taxpayers of Maldon."
Mr Dillon, who faced a tirade of complaints regarding the application at a public meeting in March, added that it was "a real shame" the council's requests for further information could not have been made at an earlier date – a view which was quickly quashed by Cllr David Sismey.
"For the applicant to suggest that the council was late in asking for more information is quite extraordinary," he said. "It is them who should have been forthcoming with all the details."
Although the nationwide need to develop renewable energy alternatives was recognised by members, it appeared their concern over the visual impact and glare from the 1.5m high panels, and failure of the company to "properly engage" in public consultation, far outweighed this with a unanimous recommendation of refusal.
However both the applicant and objectors must now wait until the meeting of the Planning and Licensing Committee on June 20 for the final outcome.
