MINUTES OF EXTRAORDINARY MEETING

LANGSTONE COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Date: / 22 January 2015 / Time: / 7.30pm
Present
Apologies
Absent / Cllr T Jeffery (Chairman)
Cllr G Hancock
Cllr D Barradell
Cllr Y Edwards
Cllr A Henderson
Cllr C Bryant
Cllr W Routley
Cllr K Dew
Cllr P Verity Davies
Cllr C Pike
Cllr M Griffiths
Cllr C Meredith / In attendance / Ms H K Jones (Clerk)
Cllr David Atwell NCC
Cllr Ray Mogford NCC
Cllr Martyn Kellaway NCC
Cllr Robert Hepworth Bishton CC
25 Residents

151. Apologies had been received and were accepted from Cllrs Dew, Verity Davies, Pike and Griffiths.

152. Declarations of Interests – None

153. Planning Application CONEX 14/1275 Proposed development of solar voltaic panels at Court Farm, Magor Road.

The Chairman stated that a full debate was needed in order for the Council to resolve whether to oppose the planning application or not. It should not be presumed that a decision had been reached in advance of the meeting.

An interesting and informative discussion took place exploring arguments for and against the installation of a solar farm at Court Farm.

The landowner of Court Farm was present at the meeting and stated that the land is not easy to manage and can only currently be used for grazing horses due to access restrictions. Plans are to have a flock of sheep grazing around the solar panels.

Some of the points raised included:

·  Already a solar farm nearby at Hazel Farm

·  Glint and glare is a real issue

·  Community fund may or may not materialise but is focused on the planned site

·  Development company is relatively new – may result in errors – not built a solar farm before

·  Drainage in the area may change when solar panels installed

·  Agricultural land is needed for food production

·  Heavy metals in solar panels – toxic run-off possible – can leach into land

·  Disposal of units must be via specialist companies – nearest is North Wales

·  Application itself states there will be a detrimental effect on the landscape

·  Panels will be 60cm off ground rather than recommended 90cm – more difficult for grazing sheep

·  Unclear whether screening panels will screen glare and view of panels for homes in the area

·  There is no mitigation for the effect on views from Underwood

·  Welsh Govt policies of keeping agricultural land and developing alternative energy are conflicting – no clarity as to priorities

·  Llanvapley in Monmouthshire – similar site – tested policies – but Monmouthshire land was of lower grade

·  Agricultural land is more plentiful in Monmouthshire than in Newport; brownfield sites are more plentiful in Newport than in Monmouthshire

·  Llanvapley has far fewer homes surrounding it than the Court Farm site

·  Local Development Plan (LDP) due to be considered within a week of this meeting – may result in changes to Council policy

·  UK Govt turning against solar farms, reducing subsidies from April 2015

·  Applicant did not appeal against refusal of previous application – why re-submit rather than appeal? Timescales and impact of Government plans to withdraw subsidies in April 2015

·  Wales is net exporter of electricity. No benefit to local economy from this development

·  It would be better to use brownfield sites rather than agricultural land – plenty in the area eg. Llanwern steel works

·  NCC commissioned a report which did not identify this area as suitable for development

·  A 3.5km cable needs to be installed to connect the site to the national grid – brownfield sites would be far simpler and closer to connect

·  The application does not contain a full lifecycle cradle to grave analysis for the site

·  Unclear whether BE Renewables intends to sell the site on the another management company

·  In Cornwall, an application was turned down as the site was very near an existing one, as in Langstone

·  At the end of 25 years, the site might continue as a solar farm or be sold off for housing

The Council resolved to oppose the planning application.

Any objections to the application need to be submitted before 27th January 2015.

There being no other business the meeting concluded at 21:00.

Minutes of the Extraordinary Council Meeting 22 Jan 2015 Page 126