THE Queen's former private solicitor has waded into the row over the proposed solar farm development at Llanvapley.

Camborne Energy Investments has put forward an application for 45,000 photovoltaic panels to be built on 66 acres in Llanvapley.

But now Sir Henry Boyd-Carpenter, of Llanvapley Court and his wife Lady Lesley have written in to the local planning authority saying that the size and scale of the proposed development is such as to dwarf the heart of the village.

"This is a ribbon development of over half-a-mile along the ridge and could be a pointer to the applicant's ambition to expand the proposed solar park in the future," they warned

"In food production terms the destruction, even if temporary, of a substantial acreage of good agricultural land at a time when the UK has a much-published need to use arable land for true and productive farming purposes, would in our view be a disgrace for decades to come.

"Using good agricultural land for this project, because it is cheaper and easier for the development company concerned, is not a valid reason to grant planning permission to do so."

Residents of Llanover ward, who say that they support the development of renewable energy in this area, have also submitted a petition to the planning authority in favour of the scheme.

Jonathan Townend managing director for Camborne Energy said, "Several people have objected to the proposed scale of the solar farm and questioned why it can't be reduced in size.

"The size of the proposed development is partly determined by commercial viability i.e. the economies of scale needed to make the project attractive to the investors who will pay for its construction, and partly in response to Government strategy and policies for supporting changes in the energy industry to encourage the development of large-scale renewable energy projects, the two being inextricably linked."

The proposed renewable energy generating plant will input some 9,200,000 kWh/annum of electricity into the local electricity distribution network via the substations at Abergavenny and Monmouth.

This is sufficient energy to power circa 2,700 homes in the area, based on Ofgem's published typical domestic electricity consumption figures of 3,300 kWh per annum.

"We regard the proposed site as one of the very few suitable sites available in the Monmouthshire area for large-scale solar PV farm developments," said Mr Townend.

"Many people in the local area have been understandably concerned about the changing views that may be presented by the proposed development. It would be unrealistic to suggest that a development of this size will not be seen - we cannot hide it entirely but we do consider that views will generally be quite limited by the character of the site and that certain public views can be partially screened to minimise the impact of the change.

"The development will sit within the existing landscape framework of trees and hedges, none of which will be affected, and it is these field boundaries and the rolling topography that only allows partial views of the site from any local viewpoint."

Opponents to the scheme, who formed a pressure group Beautiful Yet THreatened (BYTH), have highlighted an issue over the substation which has appeared to have grown in size since the initial application was submitted in January.

Mr Townend responded, "The proposed housing remains as originally submitted - a rectangular building with a pitched roof. However, the proposed external compound area has increased in size as a result of information we received after the application from Western Power Distribution.

"We acknowledge that the compound area is thus larger than previously shown but we do not consider that this represents a significant change as the sub-station occupies a relatively small area in just one of the fields on the proposed site."

Camborne Energy Investments intends leasing over six fields at Manor Farm Llanvapley and Crossway at Perth-y-Pia from Robin Foord and Bernard Blackwell.

Mr Townend said that the proposed development would help two local farming families to diversify their businesses and establish a reliable income stream that will help to bolster them against the low produce prices currently achieved.

He added, "Mr Foord has told us that last year's wet weather meant he had the least productive year in over 40 years and he and Mr Blackwell share the constant concern of many small farmers across the UK regarding the long-term sustainability of their farms and livelihoods."

Former Red Hart publican Jim Sharp said that he objected to the application and added, "Monmouthshire contains a relatively high proportion of good quality agricultural land. It also has a high proportion of farming land that is more than double the Welsh average.

"Approximately three-quarters of the county's farming land is identified as grassland, which although high is lower than the Welsh average at 89 percent.

"In contrast, the proportion of land used for crops and horticulture at 17 percent, is significantly higher than the Welsh average of six percent.

"This application involves at least 67 acres of land falling into the above definition and no matter how this application is dressed up the development will lead to the effective loss of this productive land. In planning speak the main reason to refuse this application is that it erodes and destroys the character and quality of the area."