North Yorkshire Council will consider Harmony Energy's planning application for the proposed Solar Farm around Mains Lane/Bridleway at a meeting of its Strategic Planning Committee on Tuesday December 10th at 10 a.m. at County Hall, Northallerton. The agenda will be available one week before the meeting. click

This application seeks permission for the erection of a ground mounted solar farm, and associated infrastructure, on land comprising approximately 165 acres (that is about the size of 100 football pitches) on land east of Wormald Green. This will affect both sides of Mains Lane and will start only 800 yards from its junction with Knaresborough Road.

North Yorkshire Council (Harrogate) has recommended the approval of this application. To read its submitted document by the case officer, Kate Broadbank, click.

There will be differing views from villagers regarding the application, which is sited mainly because it is close to the National Grid Sub-station on the Burton Leonard to Wormald Green road. Generally, the value of 'green' energy, albeit very variable, is set, in the main, against both the loss of productive farm land (40+ years) and the attractive countryside destroyed, with consequential impact on wildlife. However, in this case, there are other negative or potential negative aspects, namely two other permitted Solar Farms just to the South (Burton Top) and the Southwest (Cayton), the construction of the servicing track for the site which will join the A61 opposite Wormald Green Garage (and road junction) and, very worryingly, the dangers of flooding from the village beck as rain will stream off the angled 'glass' solar panels on the site, which is in the heart of the catchment area. To see further details about the size of the site (about 200,000 panels) and the drainage proposals with possible implications please click.

The deadline for comments for this application closed on October 31st. A total of 36 public comments were received, 29 of which were objections and five in support of the plan. To read all documents relating to this application click.

Those who have commented on the application may participate in the meeting but must register their wish to do so by midday, at least three working days before the start of the meeting, that is by midday this Thursday- i.e. Thursday December 5th. To register, contact the Council's Democratic Services team by email at [email protected] or telephone 0300 131 2 131. Due to time restraints of no more than three minutes per speaker, usually one person, generally the first to register, is appointed as spokesperson for the objectors.

The meeting will be broadcast live for those wishing to observe proceedings. click