A CONTROVERSIAL solar farm has been approved on grade 3a agricultural land in Paulton — as councillors were told they had to balance the need for farmland with the need for clean energy.

The new solar farm just east of Paulton will generate enough electricity to power 3,210 homes a year. But some locals have questioned whether it will be worth losing quality farmland, as 60 percent of its 15.64 hectare (38.65 acre) area will be on grade 3a agricultural land, considered some of the “best and most versatile” for arable.

But applicants PACE said that the land was currently used for beef production — and that that sheep would be able to graze around the solar panels under the plans under a “tried and tested” design.

PACE development manager Luke Shackleton said: “Growing up on a beef and sheep farm myself in Somerset, I can assure you that our proposal is of no threat to food security. Cattle and sheep are very similar in terms of food conversion rate.”

As well as the solar panels, the plans would see 49 shipping containers installed on hardstanding, including 36 to provide battery storage, so power could be saved for when most needed.

Speaking to object at Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning committee on June 4, local man Daniel Keynes said this made it different to other solar farms. He said: “This is an over the top, highly visible, full on, major power generation proposal on an industrial scale.”

Cllr Liz Hardman (Paulton, Labour) said: “It appears the majority of local people, especially in my area of Paulton are in favour of this plan.

“We believe it will not have a major impact on our Paulton area. The location is ideal, in between two areas of higher land. The area is reasonably well screened at the moment by hedgerows.”

Although the solar farm lies next to Paulton, it lies within council ward of Midsomer Norton North — and both the ward’s councillors sit on the planning committee. The town council has objected to the plans.

Shaun Hughes (Midsomer Norton North, Independent) said: “I’m on board with the idea of solar but I think this is totally the wrong place.

“This isn’t just being fields with solar panels with sheep grazing underneath. This is a huge industrial development with 36 containers of batteries plus 13 containers of [transformers] and converters.”

Tim Warren (Midsomer Norton North, Conservative) said that he knew one farmer who had turned land into a solar farm, but now was not able to make his own silage and had to take his tractor Nailsea to get some — which also added to the carbon impact by holding up traffic.

He added: “You’re building almost a metal town there between Midsomer Norton and Radstock. So I can’t support this.”

The planning committee voted 7-3 to approve the plans. The planning permission will allow the farm to be there for 45 years, after which the solar farm will be decommissioned and the field returned to agriculture.