CORNWALL Council’s strategic planning committee has given its verdict on proposals for a large solar farm in a hamlet near Launceston.

Windel Solar 4 Limited submitted a proposal seeking permission to build a solar farm on 82.1 hectares of undeveloped or ‘poor quality’ agricultural land located north of Canworthy House, Canworthy Water, Launceston which will be capable of providing 42 mega watts of renewable energy. It is proposed that the development would be in place for a period of 40 years.

It had been recommended for approval by Adam Carlyon, the planning officer charged with assessing the proposals at Cornwall Council.

After hearing from parish councillors, residents, the landowners and the proposed developers of the solar farm, the committee opted to refuse the application, by a vote of seven in favour of refusal, three against and no abstentions, citing concerns over the visual impact of the plans.

The decision came in a meeting where the committee heard about concerns from residents, parish councillors and the two Cornwall Council members for the area concerned about the impact that the proposals would have. This included complaints over potential visual impact, noise pollution and agriculture.

Cllr Barry Jordan, the Cornwall Council member for Camelford and Boscastle (Conservative) said that while he was not against the principle of alternative energy, this was the wrong location.

He told the committee and those present: “It has to be regulated. In a climate crisis, it seems odd to me that it is a proposal where the panels are made in china, probably by forced captive labour and for the benefit of a Canadian company.

“There will be 650 very large lorries driving down with panels throughout the year, including other goods such as parts for substations, batteries in addition to jcbs, fuel bowsers and concrete.

“What protection is there for residents with vehicles operating six days a week? This is a monstrous piece of work and will upset lives for at least a year and is abominable for people.

“It will leave the landscape as a sea of glass. It has caused me many sleepless nights thinking about the impact on residents. Councillors, I implore you to refuse, there are better places to do solar farms which does not distress residents and endanger children’s safety. We must not capitulate and not desiccate Cornwall.”

Cllr Jordan also stated concerns of the impact site traffic would have on adjacent locations, especially in neighbouring Hallworthy on Thursdays, its market day.

Representatives of the land owners at the meeting stated that the otherwise poor agricultural land would still be used for grazing, adding that the solar panels would provide shelter for sheep and allow them to increase the amount of sheep on the land than currently present.