A PUBLIC exhibition was held to give members of the public the opportunity to question the team behind a solar farm development planned for Tytherington.

As well as a series of display boards outlining the plans, which have changed since the proposals first emerged in June, an example of the solar panels that would be used was put on show.

A section of the initially proposed 26 hectare site was removed from the plans because it was deemed to provide a negative visual impact.

The solar farm will now produce about 7.5 million kWh of electricity each year which is enough to power 1,817 homes on its 17.5 hectare area of land.

The site will be developed by AEE Renewables who develop and operate solar PV farms across the country.

Addressing the concerns surrounding the negative visual impact of the site a spokesman for the firm said: “There will always be a visual impact no matter what kind of development is being built.

“If new farm buildings were being built on the same site then they would be even more noticeable."

He added that the site would benefit everyone: “If you add in the community benefits which will form part of the development package and combine it with the bio-diversity gains that the site will bring then you can see clear benefits for everyone.

“The site will require very minimal maintenance and the land can still be used for grazing – as it is now.”

Julian Barton, who lives in Itchington Road in the village, said that he supported the solar farm development.

“I am definitely in favour of the building of the solar farm here. I have no concerns about the site whatsoever and think it’s about time we started using more green energy," he said.

Gill Whittaker, from Duck Street in Tytherington, was not as convinced.

She said: “I have mixed feelings about the development. I will mourn the loss of agricultural land and the country feel of the place.

“I recognise that we need to focus on things like this but it is more preferable that brown field sites are used instead.”

The owner of the land, Ernest Matthews, explained his reasons for allowing the development.

“I retired six years ago and now I just rent out the land on seven months grass tenancies every year," he said.

“The development will be great for the environment – when I was a lot younger living on the farm the fields used to be covered with butterflies but I haven’t seen one in at least 20 years.

“The solar farm will help restore the natural habitat and I made sure in the contract that the land will be returned to agriculture when the 25 years is up.”

As part of the proposals AEE Renewables will create about 740 metres of new hedging on the site to shield it from public view. They will also plant 75 new trees to fill in gaps in the existing hedging.

It is expected to take about seven years for the new hedging to fully grow and about seven to 10 years for the new trees to mature.

A decision on whether or not to grant permission for the solar farm will be made by South Gloucestershire Council's Development Control (East) Committee on Thursday, October 9.