News
19 December 2013 - Good Energy have abandoned their proposal to build this solar power station!
We received the following communication from Good Energy as a result of our request for an update:
"As you know we held a consultation in March of this year to assess the suitability of land at Trefronick and Trevalso Farms for a solar development. After a lengthy process, we have now decided not to pursue this application any further. This decision has been made through a combination of consultation and listening to guidance produced by Cornwall Council on the suitability of Grade 3a land for solar of which a large proportion of the site was reported to be. We thank you for your time spent communicating with us and wish you all the best.".
We would like to thank everyone who signed our petition and supported this campaign. It is hoped that Cornwall Council will cease to approve inappropriate industrial developments in future.
4 December
The government's decision to shift some of the renewable subsidy from onshore to offshore will hopefully deter energy companies from attempting inappropriate developments such as the ones proposed in St Allen. For further details click here.
13 October
Cornwall Protect are leading a "Demonstration of Community Groups opposing Turbine and Solar developments" in Truro on Saturday 19th October starting at 10.00am. The purpose of the demonstration is to warn the people of Cornwall that the rush of Turbines and Solar panels continues unabated and the character of Cornwall's landscape, our greatest sustainable asset, is being desecrated.
Meet at the Underpass under the A39 (between the Tesco Car Park and Marks & Spencer) at 10.00am. We will then walk to the Cathedral for Photographs at 11.00am.
For further details visit the Cornwall Protect web site.
18 July
We wrote to Dr Woollaston as a result of her contribution to the recent government debate on Large Scale Solar as follows:
"I followed the recent debate on Large Scale Solar with interest on the webtv service and am pleased to see this aspect of renewable energy receive some coverage. I recently had the opportunity to raise this matter with my own MP, Sarah Newton (copy addressee), at a recent surgery.
I suspect that the more detailed guidance Mr Barker refers to will make no difference to Cornwall Council's approach. I note that Mr Barker is careful to ensure that any references he makes to agricultural land are preceded by the word 'prime'. This ensures that the majority of agricultural land in the west country will remain available for development as it is classified in grades 3 to 5.
He was also at pains to point out that the guidance will not be prescriptive, so planners will continue to ignore local opinion where it suits them, thus completely defeating the purpose of Localism.
In the parish of St Allen where I live, Good Energy are working on a proposal to cover up to 100 acres of farmland. Around 2/3 of those in the parish who are on the electoral register have signed a petition opposing this development. Planning permission has already been granted in the parish for solar arrays totalling 18.3 MW on 102 acres, satisfying the domestic electricity requirements for approximately 4,500 houses.
There are around 180 houses in the parish and in view of the petition and the currently approved capacity for solar, the St Allen Parish Council has passed a resolution opposing any further use of agricultural land (of any grade) for solar panels. It will be interesting to see how much the clear views of local residents are taken into account should Good Energy decide to proceed with their application.
As an aside, it is worth noting that 'community benefit' funds are entirely voluntary, and none of the 3 approved schemes at St Allen makes any contribution whatsoever."
Here is her response:
"Thank you very much for taking the time to email me. I read your comments about the recent debate about solar arrays with interest and I remain positive that the new planning guidelines will be of help to communities opposed to the industrialisation of the countryside."
We shall see.
17 July
The CPRE 'Save Our Countryside' campaign has been launched and you can sign the charter here.
11 July
Sarah Wollaston, MP for Totnes, spoke at a recent debate on Large Scale Solar Arrays and this may be viewed on the Government web TV service (starts at 15:00): click here. It is hoped that the Government will issue more detailed guidance for local councils which will give local views greater emphasis.
26 June
We haven't heard much from Good Energy lately and so asked them for an update - here is part of the response from Lorna Edwards: 'I can confirm that we have still not finalised the layout that will be submitted to planning. However, of course I will keep you informed of our plans and timescales'.
24 April
Correspondence with the Rt. Hon Greg Barker, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change.
Dear Mr Barker,
I understand that you are due to address the Large-Scale Solar conference in Truro on 25th April. There is growing concern amongst the residents of Cornwall concerning the ad-hoc, unplanned way in which such developments are taking place. Those opposed to this approach will not be able to take part in these proceedings, but will be present outside County Hall. I do hope you will take this opportunity to speak to them outside of the conference and listen to their concerns.
Yours sincerely,
Richard Pratt
St Allen, Truro, Cornwall
Dear Mr Pratt,
I am writing to you to respond personally to the issues which you raise around large-scale solar PV.
I want to be absolutely clear that we do not support unlimited solar development on prime agricultural land. Such developments with negative impacts on food production, landscape and communities do not form part of our ambitious vision for UK solar. Our policy approach is to encourage deployment of solar PV on buildings and brown-field land – not green-field sites – and the Renewables Obligation subsidy structure has been revised by this Government to provide a higher rate of support to brown-field developments.
I would also draw your attention to the National Solar Centre’s detailed guidelines for project developers and planning authorities which will shortly be published. This will include guidance on how best to design large solar PV arrays to minimise visual and other negative impacts as well as how best to assess applications.
The Department for Energy and Climate Change has had sight of the guidance as it has been developed and it will enshrine within it the hierarchy for large scale developments – building mounted, brownfield land and only then low grade agricultural land (especially where it can be allocated to dual usage with grazing).
The Department will also be publishing a UK Solar PV Strategy in the summer which will explain in further detail how we will work with industry to support sustainable, affordable deployment of solar power and ensure that it best meets the needs of local communities. The Department for Communities and Local Government is similarly working to make sure that the existing planning process provides greater input for local communities in respect of developments in their areas.
I hope that you find this reassuring.
Kind regards,
Rt. Hon Gregory Barker MP, Minister of State for Energy & Climate Change
23 April
The application for a Solar power station at Pennare Farm (LLama Land) was approved by the Strategic Planning Committee on 23rd April.
19 April
The application for a Solar power station at Pennare Farm (LLama Land) will be considered by the Strategic Planning Committee on 23rd April. For details, see agenda item 4.2 - click here.
18 April
We will be visiting every property in the Parish with a petition for people to sign opposing this development, starting this Saturday (20th April). It will take a little while for us to complete this, but in the meantime if you would like to contact us to arrange a convenient time for us to visit you please call 01872 540814. Thank you.
17 April
The National Trust has entered into an agreement with renewables company Good Energy giving it partner status. We have written to the National Trust concerning this matter and to view our letter, together with their response click here (this may take a minute to download).
Please take a moment to let the National Trust know of your views on this matter by writing to their Corporate Partnerships Manager, Louis Burdett (Louise.Burdett@nationaltrust.org.uk). To send her an email - click here.
8 April
Application PA12/08053, 24.5 acres, 5 MW, Nanteague Farm Marazanvose Truro Cornwall TR4 9DH, Kronos Solar, was approved by the Strategic Planing Committee at a meeting on 4 April.
2 April
A flyer has been distributed to all homes in the parish of St Allen & Zelah and a copy is available from the Downloads page - click here.
14 March
For a copy of the presentation given by Good Energy to St Allen Parish Council (2.6 MByte) - click here.
10 March
The Sunday Independent featured the threat of solar and wind schemes to Cornwall and Devon in a double-page spread today (Countryside Turns Into A Battleground). The article concluded with an invitation to let them know your views. To send them an email - click here.
8 March
At the consultation evening held in the Hawkins Arms in Zelah this evening there was overwhelming rejection of the entire Good Energy proposal for the St Erme/St Allen solar development with no one voting in favour and 13 against. Even the 'Community Fund' bribe failed to attract support with only 1 vote for and 11 against. To view the full results - click here.
7 March
We now have an email address to contact us - click here.