Gable Cottage Little Chalfield Melksham Wiltshire SN12 8NP

Dear Alison Hall

Application W14/05253/FUL

I write as I am concerned about the application for a Solar Park at Little Chalfield, Wiltshire.

The site would be very visible from both ground and first floor of our property, which we have owned for 24 years and was selected in greater part for the surrounding landscape and views.

Both my wife and I work from home and live with our daughters when they’re not at university and we have many friends and business acquaintances who enjoy visiting the area and appreciate the amenity it provides.

My family also use the roads, bridle paths and footpaths for running, walking and horse riding.

My specific comments regarding the application follow for reference.

This application would constitute urbanization of an otherwise unspoiled part of Wiltshire’s beautiful countryside and impact on views and landscapes and as such will have an adverse effect on an important amenity for locals and tourists.

The application underestimates visibility from referenced sites, excludes reference to some sites of high visibility including one less than 100 metres from gardens at Great Chalfield Manor and other clear views from a number of footpaths and local properties. (Photographs to illustrate this are attached). It also implies that properties that are in fact adjacent are some way away.

Large numbers of ramblers, cyclists and horse riders use the bridleways and footpaths that surround the site. The Wiltshire cycle route is close to the site. The site lies on lower land overlooked by other geographical reference points including the Cotswold escarpment which is an area of outstanding natural beauty and visible from the site.

Proposed screening would take years to mature and would only be effective in the summer months, and it is proposed to reduce the height of the crowns of the trees at regular intervals which would affect the level of screening. The site would therefore remain visible from local properties, local roads and footpaths.

The claim that bio diversity will be improved is overstated as this is already being encouraged by participation in the 6m set aside scheme. There is a risk to the rare Bath Asparagus that grows in the verges adjacent to the site. The good grade 3b agricultural land, has been used successfully for growing arable crops for many years. Sheep farmers claim that the small amount of grazing under solar panels is overstated and of limited benefit.

The community involvement of the developer has been poor. The initial consultation was arranged in Broughton Gifford despite the site being in Atworth Parish and an Atworth event was arranged hurriedly before application. Comparative attendance numbers at each reflect the poor publication for the Atworth event and the vast majority attending the Broughton Gifford event were supportive of Solar but not on this site.

Access issues are underplayed in the application. The Stonar crossroads and the proposed turning into the site from South Wraxall’s alternative route provide very limited visibility. Roads are narrow and will become easily blocked. There has been no consideration for the safety of large number of runners, cyclists, ramblers, horse riders and school traffic using the roads.

Our own competition horses including a mare and young foal are kept in a paddock almost opposite the site and we have grave concerns regarding their safety during construction.

Local economic benefits have been exaggerated, as employment opportunities are short term and typically filled by overseas workers. Impact may well be negative as a result of a reduction in tourism.

Permission would be contrary to recent advice from government minister Greg Barker who stated that “support for Solar PV, should ensure proposals are appropriately sited, give proper weight to environmental considerations such as Landscape, Visual Impact, Heritage, and Local Amenity”.

He has also stated that "Solar has a bright future in the UK, but not at any price. I want solar targets on industrial roofs, homes and brownfield sites, not on our beautiful countryside" In April 2014 he followed up this advice to all planning offices, making clear concerns regarding solar farms on green field sites and confirming that “I do not want uncontrolled expansion of solar on the countryside. The main focus for future growth must be onsite generation. That should mean rooftop deployment on industrial, commercial and retail rooftops-even car parks and brownfield sites".

In addition The Times confirmed that: A thousand applications for renewable energy projects, including wind and solar farms, may be causing needless anxiety for homeowners because enough have already been granted planning permission to meet Britain’s 2020 green targets, a study has found. The projects that are said to be surplus to requirements include about 3,000 onshore wind turbines, 3,000 offshore ones and 100 solar farms of five acres or more. A total of 16 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity has already been built, producing enough electricity to supply 11 million homes. Another 19GW is either under construction or has been granted permission and is awaiting construction.

Planning law permits protection of countryside of this type by discouraging urbanization and giving a clear responsibility to protect areas of “beautiful countryside and the impact on views and landscape”. In a recent article about our own property, English Home magazine described Little Chalfield as an area “tucked away amongst a peaceful stretch of English countryside”, and “idyllic, and evoking English scenes reminiscent of the timeless landscapes of Eric Ravilious”.

For the above reasons I would therefore urge you to refuse permission on the following grounds:

Loss of valuable and important visual amenity. Dangerous and inadequate access. Inappropriate land profile. Cumulative impact. Unproven case for need

Photographs that follow show the visibility of the site from various points. The site is currently ploughed so easily identified.

Yours sincerely

Philip & Sara Addis

Cc Terry Chivers & Atworth PC

! ! Fig 1 – View from road adjacent to Blackacre Farm on the Holt Road and behind the footpath that crosses the road.

! Fig 2 – View from the footpath adjacent to Westfield House in Little Chalfield hamlet. ! Fig 3 – View from Bridle track from Great Chalfield to Little Chalfield adjacent to the log store

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! ! Fig 4 – View from the South Wraxall to Stonar School road.