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| Griff Rhys Jones objects to Tattingstone solar farm plan | Griff Rhys Jones objects to Tattingstone solar farm plan |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Comedian Griff Rhys Jones said building a £25m solar farm near his Suffolk home would be a "folly" that would ruin the landscape. | |
| Hive Energy wants to build a 43,000-panel farm at Tattingstone, near Ipswich. | Hive Energy wants to build a 43,000-panel farm at Tattingstone, near Ipswich. |
| Mr Rhys Jones said he feared a "gigantic change of use to farmland". | Mr Rhys Jones said he feared a "gigantic change of use to farmland". |
| Hive said it would help provide the UK's energy needs and the solar panels would eventually be concealed by hedgerows and trees. | Hive said it would help provide the UK's energy needs and the solar panels would eventually be concealed by hedgerows and trees. |
| The £25m proposals would cover 95 acres (38 hectares) at Valley Farm near Alton Reservoir. | The £25m proposals would cover 95 acres (38 hectares) at Valley Farm near Alton Reservoir. |
| The company said it would generate 16MW of electricity - enough to supply 6,000 homes. | The company said it would generate 16MW of electricity - enough to supply 6,000 homes. |
| 'Blight the countryside' | |
| Mr Rhys Jones, who is a patron of the Stour and Orwell Society, said it was "folly". | Mr Rhys Jones, who is a patron of the Stour and Orwell Society, said it was "folly". |
| "We've been conned into assuming that when we put in renewables it doesn't matter that they blight the countryside because they're saving the planet," he said. | "We've been conned into assuming that when we put in renewables it doesn't matter that they blight the countryside because they're saving the planet," he said. |
| "If approved, it effectively will allow others to do the same in other areas and we could be facing a gigantic change of use to our farmland across Britain. | "If approved, it effectively will allow others to do the same in other areas and we could be facing a gigantic change of use to our farmland across Britain. |
| "We could identify better wasteland to do this or use the roofs of industrial estates within a few miles of this beautiful countryside." | "We could identify better wasteland to do this or use the roofs of industrial estates within a few miles of this beautiful countryside." |
| Holbrook, Tattingstone and Wherstead parish councils have criticised the plans, but bodies including Natural England, the RSPB and the Suffolk Wildlife Trust did not object. | Holbrook, Tattingstone and Wherstead parish councils have criticised the plans, but bodies including Natural England, the RSPB and the Suffolk Wildlife Trust did not object. |
| Tim Purbrick, commercial director of Hive Energy, said: "There are no immediate neighbours to the site and we will be making a six-figure investment with new hedges and copses, so within five to seven years we don't think you will be able to see into the solar park from the local area. | Tim Purbrick, commercial director of Hive Energy, said: "There are no immediate neighbours to the site and we will be making a six-figure investment with new hedges and copses, so within five to seven years we don't think you will be able to see into the solar park from the local area. |
| "You don't lose agricultural land - you can't plant crops, but you can use sheep to graze the grass beneath them and you can drive a tractor between them and take hay off the land. | "You don't lose agricultural land - you can't plant crops, but you can use sheep to graze the grass beneath them and you can drive a tractor between them and take hay off the land. |
| "We're having to rely on overseas countries continuing to supply the UK which isn't good for our energy security and we need a mix of nuclear, oil and gas in the short term, and renewables." | "We're having to rely on overseas countries continuing to supply the UK which isn't good for our energy security and we need a mix of nuclear, oil and gas in the short term, and renewables." |
| Babergh District Council's planning officers have recommended the solar farm is approved. | Babergh District Council's planning officers have recommended the solar farm is approved. |
| The council's planning committee has deferred making a decision on the solar farm until later this year. |