Wychavon Councillors Lobby for Prioritising Solar Panels in Car Parks Over Farmland

Wychavon district council is set to explore the possibility of installing solar panels in car parks, following a contentious debate over the placement of solar farms on farmland. Conservative councillors such as Cllr Ben Hurdman and Cllr Emma Kearsey argued that productive farmland should be protected and instead suggested using alternative locations such as car parks and industrial estates for solar farms.

Key Takeaways:

• Cllr Ben Hurdman and Cllr Emma Kearsey argued that solar farms should be a last resort on farmland, citing concerns over productivity and food security.
• Cllr Kearsey suggested that the council should prioritise using car parks, bus shelters, brownfield sites, and built structures for solar panels before turning to farmland.
• Conservative Cllr Dan Birch backed the proposal to install solar panels on nearly every new-build roof, citing the manufacturing capacity and the council's slow reaction to the idea.
• Green Cllr Hannah Robson advocated for prioritising car parks for solar panels, believing the council could become national leaders in the field and fulfilling their renewable energy needs.
• Liberal Democrats also backed the proposal to prioritise alternative locations for solar farms, with Cllr Dan Boatright-Greene agreeing that car parks and industrial estates should be considered before farmland.
• The council voted in favour of the motion, with Cllr Kearsey suggesting steps forward for the council to take, including lobbying the government and reviewing the use of solar panels on car parks.

Statistics:

• 45 years: the amount of time that some fields are taken out of use for solar farms.
• 6 months: the duration of a proposed subscription offer for the Worcester News.

Sources:

• Wychavon district council meeting, 23 July.
• Wychavon district council.
• Cotswold council.
• Worcester News.