Agenda item

Public Participation

Don Queen and Dave Martin spoke in objection to the application.

Michael Armstrong spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Maggie Bawden, Hullavington Parish Council spoke in objection to the application.

The officer introduced the report which recommended that permission be granted subject to conditions. He confirmed that there were no issues with archaeology and that the access track would be permanent for the lifetime of the installation. The Committee’s attention was drawn to the proposed landscaping to mitigate the visual impact and the design of the panels, being on spikes, giving it relatively easy reversibility. He noted the work done on the construction traffic route and the conditions around materials and construction.

The Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of officers and it was confirmed that although estimates varied it was expected to generate power for approximately 2000 households. Clarification was sought on the cumulative visual impact and it was confirmed that at present there were no further similar applications coming and that each application would be considered on its individual merit. As the site connected straight to the grid there was no issue with upgrading of equipment. Issues around construction route traffic would be reported to enforcement officer and proposed measures included surveys of route and repair of damage which included the decommissioning phase

Members of the public then had the opportunity to address the committee as detailed above.

The local member, Cllr Jane Scott explained that whilst supportive of renewable energy, there was concern over both the visual impact of the site to the west and the proposed construction traffic route. She noted the closure of Pig Lane until new year for Network Rail work, and questioned whether Norton Parish Council had been consulted over the proposed route. She also highlighted the proximity of the airfield and queried whether discussions had taken place with the army who flew from there. She drew attention to the stubble in the current field and asked for a condition to seed the field with meadow grass prior to installation. The Committee’s attention was also draw to the ongoing negotiations around a local payment and how their negotiation powers would be affected should the Committee decide to grant the application.

In the debate that followed the need to understand the visual impact by way of a site visit was necessary in order to make a decision. It was confirmed that both the Ministry of Defence and the Civil Aviation Authority had been consulted on the proposal. Concern was raised over the impact on the local payment negotiations and it was suggested that Wiltshire Council should consider a future policy change which would allow the Council to give guidance to parish councils in this area. The establishment of seeded grass in the field was considered critical to allow the land to remain agricultural. Concern was raised over the type of fencing panel used being alien to the site and it was suggested that stock fencing would be more appropriate. The Committee felt it important to consider the Parish Council’s views when making a decision.

In order to assess visual impact it was proposed that the application be deferred to enable a site visit to take place.

Resolved

To DEFER the application for Committee members to undertake a site visit to consider the visual aspect and impact and the scale and design of the proposed fencing.