Public meetings over huge new solar farm near St Asaph cancelled due to coronavirus fears

Two public meetings planned to discuss a huge new solar farm plan have been cancelled because of coronavirus fears.

Solarcentury, which wants to build a 117 hectare renewable energy facility near St Asaph called Elwy Solar Energy Farm, has lodged a consultation with Denbighshire council planners.

The site, which could dwarf 10 Wembley stadiums, is so large the decision on whether it goes ahead will be taken by Welsh Government.

Public meetings had been planned at Bodelwyddan Community Centre on March 11 and St Asaph Cricket Club March 12, but the company has postponed them because of “concerns regarding coronavirus”.

Solarcentury’s Chris Banks said: “Solarcentury has taken this difficult decision in light of the changing situation with Coronavirus.

“Bringing lots of people together in one place in the current climate does not seem a sensible thing to do when we can make information available by other means.

“Therefore we are taking the precautionary approach of cancelling these Information Sessions believing this to be the responsible course of action.

“We are sorry for any inconvenience caused but hope that everyone will understand.”

The mammoth scheme, on land at Gwernigron Farm near St Asaph, would contain enough photovoltaic panels to catch up to 62 megawatts of power from the sun’s rays.

The consultation will run until July before a planning application is lodged sometime between July and August this year.

Construction and completion of the project will take three to eight months during 2022, if planning is granted.

The company has promised local job opportunities and supply contacts for businesses in the area.

The scheme is being set on what is considered good arable land and would be visible from the A55 and some historic buildings in the area.

However Solarcentury believes it will still be possible to graze sheep on the land and has promised to work with ecological partners to leave gaps for hedgerows and wildlife.

Although the site sits outside the development boundary at present it is hoped it will be added to Denbighshire’s next Local Development Plan (LDP) which is under consultation until later this month.

Mr Banks added: “Please be reassured that we want the local community to be involved in the process leading up to any planning application being submitted and we welcome feedback and views.

“We look forward to sharing our plans in person with the community at a later stage.”

You can view and comment on the plans online at: www.solarcentury.com/elwy/

By Jez Hemming – Local Democracy Reporter