'We'll fight our ground': Major Staining solar farm future decided by Fylde Council
“My message to these big firms is, we won't be bought off, that's one thing for sure- we’ll stand up and we'll fight our ground.”
There has been a major update in the future of the proposed Solar Farm in Staining after a Fylde Council Planning Officer recommended the application for refusal yesterday.
The application, which was rejected on Monday 3 July, will now proceed to a planning committee in September where councillors will decide if it is formally rejected.
Submitted earlier this year in January, the proposed scheme would be one of the largest energy developments in Fylde. The site would have occupied more than 21 hectares of rich agricultural land for a proposed lifespan of 40 years.
Fylde MP Andrew Snowden also reacted happily to the news. He said: “We are really, really pleased with this and it goes to show that if a community comes together, it can win.
“Thank you to everyone who got the objections in and people like John Singleton and the residents who did loads of good work on this.”
Fylde Council rejected the application due to the effects on greenfield land, harm to the rural character of the countryside, inappropriate development in the Green Belt, the loss of more than 21 hectares of ‘best and most versatile agricultural land’, unacceptable landscape and visual impacts, and highway safety concerns over the proposed construction access via Smithy Lane.
Enjoy unlimited access to local news, the latest football stories and new puzzles every day
With a digital subscription, you can see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe
In the planning decision report, the planning officer said: “"The benefits of the development in renewable energy terms do not constitute a very special circumstance that would outweigh that harm."
John Singleton, County Councillor for Fylde West, has been one of the most active campaigners against the proposed solar farm. He gave his immediate reactions to The Gazette: “I'm very pleased with the news.
“The site access road they’d chosen to bring the HGVs in is basically a one track road, so that would make the road out of use for nine months of the year, not only for Staining residents but residents in Fylde and beyond.”
“The people in the surrounding area of the proposed solar farm are delighted, because it would bring many problems. There’s all the equipment, there’s also a health hazard. I’m pleased that they've (the council) seen common sense.
“My message to these big firms is, we won't be bought off, that's one thing for sure- we’ll stand up and we'll fight our ground.”