The following was published in this weeks Tavistock Times:-

I read with interest Dr. Gary Vanstone’s letter in your 23^rd May edition regarding solar panel planning applications.  The main thrust of his letter was that West Devon Borough Council do not have a policy for renewable energy installations and the effect of this is that applicants may apply to install solar panels anywhere within the WDBC area.

Dr. Vanstone’s letter was particularly timely because in the last few weeks our village of Lamerton has heard that a planning application may be submitted for 30 acres of solar panels on good quality farmland adjacent to the village.  A recent public meeting in the village hall was extremely well attended and everybody was against the proposal. The outcome of this meeting was that we have set up a Lamerton Against Solar Array committee (LASA) to fight any planning application that may be made.  Remember that there is nothing to stop this happening in your village too.  For example we are particularly dismayed that a solar array application has just been agreed on appeal in Kelly – and that is adjacent to a Grade 1 Listed building.

 In answer to a question from a lady at our public meeting, having an array of solar panels in your village has no direct effect whatsoever on energy use in the village.  It all goes to the National Grid.

We must all work together to ensure that West Devon is not overrun with industrial scale solar array installations.

Clive Fairchild

Press Officer

Lamerton Against Solar Array