Alan Titchmarsh opposes Alresford solar farm plans; uni boss Joy Carter supports

Objections, and latterly expressions of support, have been pouring into the city council office over plans for land off Godsfield Lane, Armsworth.

There have been around 685 objections and 175 supports.

Mr Titchmarsh is Chancellor of the Winchester University, a senior honorary role.

And among the supporters of the scheme, according to the council, is Prof Joy Carter, vice chancellor of the university.

Alan Titchmarsh has written in opposition to plans for a solar farm north of Alresford.

Mr Titchmarsh, of Holybourne, near Alton, wrote to the council: “A totally inappropriate site for this scale of solar power installation. Brownfield sites can be easily developed without affecting public amenities and areas of natural beauty that are valuable for both wildlife and human health and well-being. We do need to harness natural resources but not when the creation of installations irreparably damages the countryside. Such actions are irresponsible and short sighted,”

Professor Joy Carter CBE, DL, Vice-Chancellor, University of Winchester

Prof Joy Carter, of Park Lane, Abbots Worthy, said: “The world needs initiatives like this urgently. All life and the planet are threatened. Please go ahead!”

The university has built a reputation as a green institution and Prof Carter took part in an Extinction Rebellion protest outside Barclays Bank on Jewry Street in 2020.

The Chronicle sought comment from the university but none was forthcoming.

Environment activists, Winchester Action on Climate Change, have called for people to support the scheme as a major way to tackle the climate crisis.

Among the objectors are the British Horse Society, Bighton Parish Council which has joined the Alresford Society in objecting.

Developer Anesco will not hold a public consultation but has placed a new document on the city council planning website.

The field where the Godsfield solar farm is proposed

The South Downs National Park has raised concerns about the longer distance views. The proposed site is not within the national park.

Candovers Parish Council said it is concerned about the proposed development of “a pristine area of the countryside especially as it sits next to a long distance footpath enjoyed by many in our parish but also from far afield. CPC is also concerned that permission for such a solar park risks setting a precedent for many other speculative applications in the countryside. While we appreciate the importance of renewable energy and that the availability of sites is constrained by their need to be near the grid we would like councils to encourage and only give permission to more suitable sites first, such as those on brownfield sites or areas where the landscape is already degraded, such as next to large roads."

The council added: “The threat of development in the countryside is grave not least from the need to build more houses. Councils therefore have a huge responsibility to ensure that any large scale developments in the countryside such as this solar park are the last resort. The importance of our countryside to the well-being of the general public during this pandemic has never been higher.

An image by David Ramm, of the Open Spaces Society, showing the size of the proposed solar farm next to the Three Castles Path at Godsfield Lane, north of Alresford

Archaeologists are interested in the site. Tracy Matthews, Historic Environment (Archaeology) Officer at Winchester City Council, said: “To the east of the site there is a series of intriguing cropmark features. Although their origins, date, and significance is uncertain, the features illustrate the high archaeological potential of this area.”

A comment from Dr Peter Lippiett, of Cox’s Hill, Twyford, is typical of the people writing in support: “We have enormous need of solar energy as we confront the climate crisis. This is a carefully thought-through plan with minimum local impact that could be a significant pioneer locally for the many farms that will need to ‘grow’ electricity on their land.

WinACC added: “Winchester District must therefore do more to generate its own clean energy needs, especially where this outcome can be funded entirely by private finance. If the concept of an emergency, approved by Parliament, is to have any meaning, then we should seize this opportunity.”