PLANNING permission has been granted to build a 37,000 panel solar farm near Letterston after it was subject to a Welsh Government appeal.

A two day hearing was held in February after Pembrokeshire County Council refused the application for the solar photovoltaic array, covering approximately 23 hectares at Trecoed, last June.

The reasons for refusal were its size and prominent location, its cumulative impact with an existing turbine to the north of the site, and that it would have a significantly adverse impact on the character and visual amenity of the area.

The hearing at Pembrokeshire Records Office was conducted by Ian Osborne, a planning inspector appointed by the Welsh Government.

In attendance were planning consultant Christopher Kimpton, Alison Leader and Marion Fransden from the agricultural and environmental consultancy ADAS, Pembrokeshire County Council planning officer Llyr Evans, the landowner William Miles, as well as local supporters and objectors.

Mr Osborne said: “I have concluded on the first part of the main issue that the proposals would have a moderately harmful effect on the character and appearance of their rural surroundings. However, bearing in mind the national and international desirability of the generation of electricity from a renewable resource such as solar power, I conclude overall that my finding on the second part of the main issue outweighs that on the first part.”

Castlemorris resident Theresa Arkle is disappointed at the decision.

She said: “I am very disappointed to hear the bad news that Trecoed Farm’s solar park has been allowed on appeal. The 23 hectares of agricultural land containing 37,000 solar panels sited not far from the two wind turbines at Panteg, will form an ugly blot on the unspoilt landscape.

“Other appeals are in the pipeline as well. Balanced decisions made in Pembrokeshire to refuse these applications should not be allowed to be overturned by Cardiff. One can only hope that the planning laws improve very soon.”