Opposition is mounting to a proposed solar farm on green belt land in Thurstaston.
Chint Solar has announced it wants to build hundreds of panels on 66 acres of land at Rose Cottage on Station Road which would be in use for 35 years, before the site is returned to agriculture.
It would be made up of 3.5 metre high solar PV units plus an on-site substation, inverters, transformers and security fencing.
A website set up by the company argues the benefits of solar farms as a green energy source providing power to thousands of homes.
It also claims solar farms are “wildlife havens”, with other sites seeing an “increase in the abundance of bumblebees and other pollinators”.
However, local councillors have launched a petition against the project, arguing it will lead to the loss of open views enjoyed by thousands of residents and visitors and “destroy one of Wirral’s most iconic landscapes”.
They are also concerned about noise from cooling fans, CCTV and lighting causing disturbance to nocturnal animals and disruption during construction.
They add: “This is productive farmland in an Area of Special Landscape Value, close to the Wirral Way and the Thurstaston SSSI [Site of Special Scientific Importance].
“This proposal is unnecessary, inappropriate, and damaging to one of Wirral’s most treasured locations.”
They are calling on Wirral Council to reject the proposal and rule out solar farms being built on green belt land.
The council has written to Chint Solar to inform it that an Environmental Impact Assessment will be required as part of any planning application they submit.
More details of the proposal can be read at https://online.wirral.gov.uk/planning/index.html?fa=getApplication&id=231319
Image credits: Chint Solar
