CAMPAIGNERS have been left disappointed that county planning officers have again dismissed all opposition to a proposed large-scale solar park near Watchet.

An application by Elgin Energy EsCo Ltd to put solar panels in 98 acres of fields classed as prime farmland and owned by the Wyndham Estate close to the Tropiquaria zoo was deferred last month.

It had been on the agenda for a Somerset Council planning committee but councillors received a flurry of last-minute representations from individuals and organisations such as Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA) and the Council for the Preservation of Rural England (CPRE).

They decided they needed more time to consider the latest correspondence, so the application was moved to tomorrow's (Tuesday, July 18) meeting in Taunton.

Planning officer James Holbrook had by that time already dismissed more than 100 objections to the project and recommended approval because he considered it complied with planning and energy polices.

Now, Mr Holbrook has dismissed all of the latest points made by objectors and again recommended councillors to grant ‘temporary’ planning permission for the next 40 years, after which the site would have to be returned to agricultural use.

But, Mr Holbrook added a rider that it was for councillors to decide if his assessment of the weight placed on various arguments was correct.

Among the objections dismissed by Mr Holbrook were those from:

• Watchet Town Council

• Williton Parish Council

• Old Cleeve Parish Council

• Nettlecombe Parish Council

• Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA)

• Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty management committee (AONB)

• Council for the Preservation of Rural England (CPRE)

• Minehead Conservation Society

• The Exmoor Society

• Historic England

• Natural England

• The National Farmers Union (NFU)

Elgin wants to construct a free standing, static solar photovoltaic farm, with 12 battery storage units and a primary electricity sub-station control building, which could generate 25 million kilowatt hours per annum of electricity, sufficient to power an average 7,500 homes.