Thriplow Solar Farm planning application - latest

Thriplow Parish Council met this evening to consider the latest version of the planning application put in for a large solar farm to the east of the village. A much smaller meeting than the public meeting before Xmas where there were over 100 people attending. The application now has fewer solar panels near the footpath. 

But if it wasn't as lively a meeting there was still a good level of discussion focussing on the concerns raised by residents about the scale of the proposed solar farm, the loss of green belt and the loss of an important amenity in that the footpath that links the two settlements of Thriplow and Heathfield runs through the proposed development.

Other points raised were concerns over water supply impact, potential noise and a stong feeling that the section 106 community money that had gone to create the footpath two or three years back would now be used to access the solar farm. 

I have been at the three public meetings, and the site visit by the members of the planning committee in December. I will touch base with planning officers at South Cambs tomorrow morning to see if any developments, and then write up what I want to say the district council planning committee next Wednesday as the local member. 

I've been impressed by the way the Thriplow parish council has handled this major planning application - local people who put in many hours of unpaid committee work to represent the interests of their community. This is localism at its best.