Cornwall Solar Farm: 5,000 Panel Project Approved Amid Flood Concerns

Hayle will get a solar farm, despite flooding worries. It involves 5,000 solar panels. The council committee approved it. This happened after denying a larger farm nearby.

S2W Property 103 Ltd will build it. It will include battery storage, access roads, and landscaping. The location is off Loggans Road, near the A30.

Councillor Pascoe raised flood concerns from the town council. The solar farm will power St Ives Bay Holiday Park. It will use an underground cable. The project will run for 40 years total.

St Erth Parish Council also objected to this project. They prefer solar panels on roofs or brownfield sites. This site is near a special scientific area. It’s on a floodplain, harming wildlife.

Residents also shared concerns about flooding risks. They worried about losing wildlife areas. Councillor Pascoe said the site flooded badly before. He thinks the panels could worsen flooding future risks. Councillor Arthur opposed the location at Hayle’s entrance. Councillor Guest questioned the glare assessment’s validity.

Councillor Perry supported the farm’s construction plan. He noted the land is not ideal farmland anyway. He found no strong reason to reject it this time. He thinks the road shields the solar farm enough.

Other council members agreed. Six voted for the solar farm. Four voted against it, showing disagreement.