Residents label solar firm '˜arrogant' after re-submitting rejected bid

Geoff McCormack & Ann Rose who are amongst the local residents objecting to a planned Solar farm to be erected in fields close to Penniment Lane on the Mansfield / Sutton in Ashfield border.

NMAC 30-7-15 Solar, Solar Farm objectors Geoff McCormack & Ann Rose with the huge Banner on one of their properties to get across their message
( 1 to 4) — Geoff McCormack & Ann Rose who are amongst the local residents objecting to a planned Solar farm to be erected in fields close to Penniment Lane on the Mansfield / Sutton in Ashfield border. NMAC 30-7-15 Solar, Solar Farm objectors Geoff McCormack & Ann Rose with the huge Banner on one of their properties to get across their message ( 1 to 4)

Residents breathed a sigh of relief when the original plans to build on land between Penniment Lane and Water Lane were thrown out by Mansfield District Council.

But London-based Global Renewable Construction Ltd, which was behind the original scheme, have since submitted another, tweaking their plans to reduce it from 11.6 hectares to 7.61.

If given the green light, it would be capable of produce enough electricity to power around 1,050 homes.

Penniment Lane resident Goeff McCormack said: “It’s the same situation as last time, their original presentation was so bad it would have not convinced anyone to vote in favour of it.

“Its the arrogance of the company to do this again, nobody could say anything positive about it last time.

“Maybe they think by putting it in again no-one will object, but we’re against it.”

Frank Sherratt, who is chairman of the Friends of Penniment Preservation Society - set up in response to the original solar farm application - added: “I have been against this since the word go.

“They are trying to do this through the backdoor, and we think it’s a bit sneaky.

“We have over 100 members in our society, and that os growing by the day - we’ve just had enough.”

Planning committee members on then council said the original application for solar farm would impact on neighbouring assets and nearby highways and have a visual impact on the surrounding land.

They voted to reject the plans, nine members to two.

Mansfield county councillor, Darren Langton, says his phone had been ‘red hot’ from residents in recent days.

“It looks like they trying to do this stealthily,” he said.

“It’s basically the same fields, the same area but with a few small changes.

“I think there are some serious questions need to be asked about this.

“They were soundly beaten with the first application, and the residents are upset because they fell like they are being treated with contempt.

“There’s very little difference between this application and the last one.”