A SOLAR farm will be built at Yorkley after councillors rejected concerns about disturbing archaeological remains that could be underground.

Forest businessman Brian Bennett told planners extensive "Time Team" investigations of the ground at Yorkley Court had revealed nothing of potential interest.

But Gloucestershire County Council's archaeology service said there was a "high potential for significant archaeological deposits" on the Yorkley Court site, the Forest Council's planning committee heard.

Although six other reasons for refusal of planning permission had been addressed, planning officers stood by a recommendation to refuse the go-ahead based on the archaeological concerns.

The council's planning group manager, Peter Williams, said the company did not believe the level of archaeology did not merit intrusive investigation before the start of work but the county archaeological service, a statutory consultee, disagreed.

He added: "In balancing these issues we have come down on the side of the statutory consultee."

Councillors eventually voted by 10 votes to three to allow the scheme by Mitcheldean-based Bee Green Solar but with a condition that a watching brief is kept for any remains.

The company has promised £180,000, to be split between Lydney Town Council and West Dean Parish Council, for local facilities.

Mr Bennett told the committee: "At our two other projects at Lydney and Sedbury we've had the same battle with the archaeologists.

"Despite doing what we call the time team test – very expensive screening of the land to look for disturbance – there was no conclusive evidence that anything could be found."

He said the site was the best for solar energy in the Forest and certainly in the Lydney area.

A very careful study of the area was done to find somewhere suitable that's unobtrusive that's close to the substation, he added.

A statement from local councillor, Diana Edwards (Con, Pillowell) said: "I am very much in favour of this application.

"I am conscious of harvesting the energy from the sun and I'm also very aware of the huge financial benefit for the communities.

"This is a win-win situation."

Cllr Graham Morgan (Lab, Cinderford West) said: "If you can't put solar panels on a site like this where can you put them? It the ideal place.

"We keep talking about green energy but we never want to accept these things."

But Labour colleague Jackie Fraser said the plan for 18,600 solar panels which would generate electricity for 1,090 homes, should be refused permission.

She said: "We have a maximum feasible capacity on our local grid and Western Power Distribution has indicated capacity has reached saturation point.

"If major grid reinforcement is required the cost of this – which would be new pylons all the way to Gloucester – is put on everyone's bills.

"By passing these huge solar farms you are locking up the grid and denying other community projects a chance."

Mr Francis James, whose family farmed Yorkley Court for many years, said although he supported renewable energy there had to be better sites for the solar farm.

He said the farm was still productive, the panels would make the area less attractive for walkers and, once trees are felled, it would be a blot on the landscape visible from Primrose Hill and Lydney.

Mr Bennett later told the Review that work would start soon on building the solar farm.