OLD Basing residents had an opportunity to take a closer look at plans for a solar farm.

Lightsource Renewable Energy plan to install a five megawatt solar farm at Wildwood Farm, in Newnham Lane, to provide energy for around 1,400 homes.

The company said this will save 2,500 tonnes of carbon emissions every year – the equivalent to taking 550 large family cars off the roads.

At the community information evening, villagers learned that the proposed solar farm will have 19,000 panels across the site, situated in rows, which will fit the contours of the land.

Among those who viewed the plans at Old Basing Village Hall were David and Sarah Botting, from nearby Barton’s Lane.

Mr Botting said: “I’m generally in favour of the solar farm – I can’t see any major issues with it.

“But the concerns I do have are to do with screening the site with more trees.”

Mrs Botting said she was worried about access for the site in Newnham Lane when construction work begins.

“It’s going to cause problems because it’s such a nice isolated rural site.”

Basing councillor Onnalee Cubitt took a close look at the plans, along with Councillor Sven Godesen, who sits on the borough council’s development control committee.

Cllr Cubitt said: “I am in principal not adverse to solar farms, however it is of paramount importance to me and our residents that the feel of the area remains unchanged.”

Lightsource planning officer for the solar farm project, Joshua Mellor, said he was pleased with the feedback from Old Basing residents.

He said: “It’s been mostly positive in nature.

“These fields are well screened and sloping away from properties. They are currently used for grazing which will continue once the solar farm is constructed.”

On the issues of access and tree screening, Mr Mellor said: “We will be continuing to talk to the local residents, especially the nearest neighbours to the site, to ensure there is appropriate traffic management in place.

“We want to have the least impact on their lifestyles.

“A few people have asked me to go back and propose more trees or hedgerows, which we will be doing and which will form the final planting plan that will be submitted with the final application.”