RESIDENTS of Bramley and Silchester gathered today (Saturday) to protest against plans for a solar farm the size of more than 100 football pitches. 

If approved, the development near Bramley would power 17,000 homes and save 8,000 cars worth of carbon dioxide. 

The site in Minchens Lane, known as Bramley Firth, is more than 81 hectares in size and spans six fields to the north of the village. It has been recommended for planning approval by borough council planners.

Protestors marched along the much-used Brenda Parker Way, a footpath neighbouring the earmarked land, shouting "fields for food" and "save our heritage", airing their opposition to the size of the scheme. 

READ MORE: Campaigners against huge solar farm near Bramley to march in protest

One of those who took part was Leigh Harrison who has lived in Bramley for 10 years. The plan would see solar panels erected on both sides of his home.

He said: "I’m pro solar, pro renewable energy, I think solar is great but it needs to be in the right place. I have an agricultural barn I’ve got solar panels on there. I’m for renewable energy but it has to be in the right place not devastate land supply."

Mr Harrison added: "It’s just the size of it and where it is located.

"It would be wrong to say that we are not in favour of renewable, it is just massive, so why would you do it?"

Also involved was Mike Coppen-Gardner who has lived in Silchester for 10 years. 

He said: "If you look around developers have just built an enormous development at St James Park (a nearby housing estate) and not a single solar panel is on any roof, all the industrial parks around here and there is not a single panel on a roof."

He continued: "This has been recommended for approval, but I don’t think everyone understands the size and scale, it will ruin the countryside. We have got ancient artefacts around us.

"Why do you want to build a solar park in the middle of this countryside and the people of Bramley won't have anywhere to go, this is one of the only green spaces. If this is taken away where you are standing [along Brenda Parker Way] there will be six and half feet wire mesh fences, huge batteries and three-meter-high panels - it is going to be awful."

Steve Spillane, secretary of the Solar Farm Residents Group campaign, said that the scheme is "too big and in the wrong place".

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Resident Linda Dilliway said: "We are not against solar panels it is just far too big; it is much too big for the area and it is going to impact so many people around here. If it was half the size and put in a better location, I don’t think so many people would be against it.

“Most of Bramley are saying they prefer it to houses but it is not either or – it is just too big.”

Laura Eves, who attended with her daughter Ellie-Mia, raised concerns about the loss of biodiversity.

Others also commented on the loss of fields for food production, which is what the fields are currently used for. Concerns have been heightened surrounding food supply due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

It has been proposed that the solar farm would be in place for 40 years, but Michele Dows-Miller, who co-organised the protest, said this would be more than two generations.

Aardvard EM Limited, which submitted plans to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council in December 2020, on behalf of applicants Bramley Solar Ltd, said the solar farm would provide a “reliable source of urgently needed low carbon and renewable energy”.

More than 650 people have objected to the plans, while 21 people have offered their support.

The council is due to make a decision on the application on Wednesday (April 20).