Genesis star joins solar farm protest

Rock legend Mike Rutherford was among residents who expressed disappointment after a 61-acre solar farm was approved in West Sussex.

Chichester District Council approved plans on Wednesday for the solar farm near Wisborough Green, Billingshurst, which will be the equivalent size to 35 football pitches.

Rutherford, who co-founded Genesis and Mike and the Mechanics, was among dozens at the meeting who opposed the plan. More than 2,700 people also signed a petition, while the application received around 170 objections.

Applicant Renewable Connections said the plan has been "carefully developed" over several years and would provide energy for up to 6,300 homes every year.

Residents said they were concerned about the danger to pedestrians and horse riders who use the lane, wildlife being affected and the visual impact of the solar farm which they said was on an "industrial scale".

More than 900 HGVs will travel up Drungewick Lane, between five and six a day, during the six-month construction period.

Rutherford, who lives in the area, added: "I very much sympathise with farming and green energy, but it's a very strange location.

"There's a lot of equestrian, walker and cyclist activity on that road. It's an accident waiting to happen, I'm very concerned.

Other campaigners said in the meeting that the farm, which will be fenced off for safety reasons, would look like a "prison camp".

The solar panels will be 2.7m (8.8ft) spread across six different fields and should be complete by 2027. They are expected to last for 40 years.

Phil Ingham, who also lives nearby, said: "I'm very disappointed but not surprised.

"There's safety issues on the lane, there's not enough space for two lorries on the lane. This isn't the right place, there will be 32 tonne trucks coming down a narrow lane."

Residents questioned why more brownfield sites and rooftop locations were not considered rather than green spaces.

Chris Wates, who told the meeting his family had owned the land since the 1950s, said more than 90% of the fields were not high quality agricultural land and that sheep would be able to graze within the solar farm.

Jonathon Plumb, chief operations officer at Renewable Connections, said the project had been "carefully developed following several years of environmental studies, assessments, and design work".

"To ensure the delivery of a well-designed solar farm, appropriate for its surroundings, we also undertook community and stakeholder engagement," he added.

"The proposed application received a positive recommendation from Chichester District Council officers and no objections from statutory consultees.

"The solar farm has the potential to provide energy for up to 6,300 homes every year and displace approximately 139,000 tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime."

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.