A SMALL protest against a large new solar farm being proposed near Washford was held outside a public consultation event this week.

Five Bells resident Aine Girdlestone was among those against the development, holding a 'Flour Not Power' placard outside Danesfield School in Williton on Wednesday, June 13 where plans of the 135 acre solar farm were being shown by the firm behind the scheme, Elgin Energy.

"Our concerns are the way the solar farm will affect tourism - walkers love bringing their dogs and looking at the fantastic views and that will be taken away," Ms Girdlestone said.

"We also do not understand how they can downgrade the agricultural land from grade 2 to grade 3 so that this can be built - what has changed since it was last surveyed?"

Around 50 people attended the consultation event to find out more about the plans for the 25MW solar farm which would be built across a series of 15 fields located to the North West of Tropiquaria and the Washford Transmitting Station.

A spokesman for Elgin Energy said: “The proposal will contribute to local, regional and national energy generation targets in a clean and resourceful manner and has the capacity to generate enough renewable energy to power approximately 7,500 homes annually.”

Kevin Batewan, who lives in Withycombe, said he was 'totally against' the development and could not understand why the soil was 'suddenly significantly worse' thanks to its new grade.

Mr Bateman attended with his business partner from Williton David Hosegood said: "Estates like this used to part of the community. It just feels like Elgin will profit from this more than the community."

Campaigners against the development are holding a public meeting on Friday, June 22 at 7pm in Washford Village Hall so people can hear 'how the solar farm will impact on the lives of people living within and around the proposed site'.

The company says this initial consultation event is being held prior to a planning application being submitted, however, on Elgin Energy’s own website, it boasts: “Established in 2009, Elgin Energy has extensive experience in delivering projects from initial landowner engagement to project completion, with a 98 per cent success rate in attaining planning permission.”

As of 2018, Elgin Energy has successfully deployed 230MW of solar energy across projects in the UK, providing the equivalent of 75,000 homes with clean energy annually.