We want to make readers aware that a Wiltshire Council planning officer has recommended the Little Chalfield solar farm scheme for approval and that our local councillor, Terry Chivers will now be calling it in for review by the planning committee.

We are obviously hoping to persuade the September 3 committee to pay due attention to the very many opposing submissions from local residents, parish councils, consultant Landscape Architects, English Heritage and The Campaign for Rural England.

We will highlight the cumulative impact that up to 15 solar farms within six miles of Melksham will have (with six within 5kms of the site), and to disagree with the Wiltshire Landscape Architect who seems to support the view that if you can’t see one from the other there is no impact. Interestingly, it is the consultant architect for BANES who looked at the proposed development and had the opposite view.

This is all also despite the strong Government advice from Energy Minister Greg Barker that they do not want to see solar farms on green fields, supporting them on factories, schools, or industrial sites, as well as on people’s roofs, and that they should only be developed with community support. That is obviously far from the case with the Chalfield application.

There are of course other issues that relate to the Chalfield site concerning the destruction of an otherwise unspoiled and tranquil arable countryside, by 49 acres of 39,000 precision engineered panels, fencing, substation, cameras and so on.

Access issues are also unresolved to the satisfaction of residents in Broughton Gifford, and the noise from the invertors at the Norrington site is also of great concern.

If like us you are a supporter of renewables, but only in the right place, please please write to your local councillor now.

Philip Addis, Gable Cottage, Little Chalfield, Melksham.