Opposition is mounting towards a plan for a solar farm on agricultural land in a Basingstoke village.
Monk Sherborne residents are staging a march against the planning application for a 216-acre solar farm with 9ft-high security wall at Stokes Lane.
The march, which will take place on December 30, will see objectors gather at Rookery Farm at 11am and walk the length of the site with signs and posters.
Paul Cave, a resident who has lived in the village since 2003, said: “It’s got so many people up in arms. It’s the most unsuitable location to put a solar farm.
“It feels almost like another assault on the rural community. We’ve not got a qualm with renewables, we’re all for it, in the right time in the right development, you don’t just decimate prime farming land.”
He explained that the 40-year lease plans are a ‘speculative build’ on land that does not have a guaranteed connection the grid currently.
The land, which is owned by the University of Oxford, is Grade 2 agricultural land ‘of prime quality,’ which is currently contracted for the production of potatoes ‘for one of the nation’s favourite snacks.’
The application currently has 250 comments on it, with 248 objections, more than there are households in the village, Paul explained.
He said: “We as a village will see no benefit whatsoever. It’s tampering with our heritage, our landscape. Please don’t use this one.”
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Residents are expecting to face issues if the solar farm faces an appeal and are fundraising for ‘professional support’ via a GoFundMe, which currently has raised more than £2800.
All Saints Church nears the land, a Grade 1 listed church dating back to the Norman times.
The site is also part of St James’ Way, the English section of the Camino way which leads to Santiago de Compostela.
Paul detailed that the planners are ‘trying to divert that route’ for the solar farm, with a map which shows a pathway that doesn’t exist and would affect a nearby copse if it were to be put in place.
He said: “It is tampering with our heritage, our landscape. It’s a historic site with valuable farmland. It’s the wrong development in the wrong location. Not all solar farms are good news.”
The Gazette approached Solar2, who responded that they have no comment at this time.
You can donate to the fundraiser here: Fundraiser by Rachel Williams : Say no to Monk Sherborne solar farm
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