Dawlish Discussion

The Sawmills Solar Park is located within the Ashcombe Estate, 3.2km west of Dawlish.  The site is ideal for this purpose, thanks to the high average sun hours, good grid connections and transport links, and the bowl-shaped landscape which will naturally screen the park from view. What's more, the site is very well screened within the landscape and a substantial programme of ecological improvements formed a key part of the planning application. The solar park also adjoins two Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Sanderson Weatherall and Solstice Renewables worked closely with consultees such as Natural England and local planning officers to ensure the application was acceptable.

Read more...http://www.renewableenergyfocus.com/view/41182/uk-sawmills-solar-park-plan-gets-the-green-light/

You have posted this 'news' on a Dawlish site, but I should make it clear that the site lies outside the parish of Dawlish and in the Parish of Kenton. The decision to make this application a decision delegated to an officer was not challenged by any district councillor for Kenton, but views were submitted by Dawlish Town Council Planning Committee.

The assertion that "the site is well screened from the landscape" is arguable.  I hope I am mistaken in thinking that it will be a visible intrusion in the sequence of beautiful views as one leaves the A380 on the road down to Teignmouth (and Dawlish) . 

The site lies immediately alongside the well-used road and can be seen now by the markers that have been erected.  There will be a high metal fence surrounding the sites to provide security, and this will be a visible element of the scheme.

I  believe in taking appropriate steps to avoid use of fossil fuels that have an aggressive impact on our atmosphere, but also balancing this against the impact on landscape quality that will affect income from tourism.

I'd read about it but wasn't aware of the location. I just had a quick look at the planning application - pages and pages of documents but sorry to say it passed me by at the time.  Maybe when it's not on your doorstep it holds less significance, then it's too late.  

I hope as they say it will be out of sight, it would be a shame if it scarred such a beautiful vista. 

Why do planning regs not insist that all new builds should have solar panels installed on roofs, that way we would not have to cover green fields with them.