Robmit

I agree with you Bethan. We all realize that more housing is needed but why on earth councils grant planning for such estates in areas of great National and historic interest rather than on brown field sites of which there are plenty around I can not understand. Certainly no planning application should even be considered unless it incorporates fitting solar panels on roofs where possible. As for anyone agreeing for the desecration of very good farming land in our county by the construction of a HUGE SOLAR PANEL FARM which will ruin the local beauty and amenities which have been enjoyed for centuries by locals and visitors is beyond my comprehension; other than that they might possibly have some financial interest in the project. I wonder if Mrs. Roberts and any of the local councillors live anywhere near a beauty spot which is now possibly going to be desecrated by a new industrial estate of solar panels.

If this application is allowed to proceed it will be the beginning of the end for our beautiful Shropshire countryside. The obvious place for solar panels is on council property i.e., rooftops and commercial buildings etc., as well as on private properties which lend themselves to such applications. The benefit to the community from the potential destruction of our heritage will be miniscule in comparison to the damage caused to the landscape and the loss of agricultural land. The planning department of the council never seems to respect our heritage and a very good example is the way in which a public lavatory, which looks like a concrete bunker has been erected at the most prominent part of Butcher row, together with the destruction of so much of the town in the 60s and 70s. One would have hoped that by now the council would have learned its lessons that the majority of the people in Shropshire love their county and do not wish it to be desecrated in the name of greed. The date of 22nd December is most unfair as many people will most likely have left for their Christmas visiting to far away places.

Hope I wasn't one of the two bored looking members Bethan! I probably just have that sort of face and I promise you I wasn't bored but very concerned that we do our utmost to preserve our wonderful heritage in the form of the beautiful Shropshire pastureland and countryside in general and also to maintain our farmlands for what they should be used for - FARMING. As for solar panels on appropriate housing I am most certainly all for that as it makes common sense and I endorse your comments one hundred percent.

Thanks for the update.

I have already submitted my objection to the change of use for this land from farming and agricultural use (for which it has always been used) to industrial use, and it is important to send comments directly or via their website to the Shropshire Council Planning Authority http://planningpa.shropshire.gov.uk/online-applications/ Will the meeting on the 27th be held at the Pavilion in St. Martin's Road please?

Hi Bethan, I received the Notification from the Planning Department at mid-day today so it has taken three days from the 6th October to reach me and now it is the weekend which means five of the 21 days we have to consider this application will have disappeared. I hope we can all get together to discuss the matter before deciding on any objection or otherwise and shall look forward to hearing from the committee as soon as possible in this connection. My personal view concerning such developments on Farm Land in our area, or any other for that matter, remain as stated in my objection to the previous application; principally that we need farm land to grown crops and we need to conserve our beautiful landscape for future generations and certainly not to encourage industrial development of any kind on such terrain. Regards, Rob

Thanks for the update Bethan. We must keep our eyes on it though! I will enjoy reading the paper a bit later once I have woken up! Regards,

Hi Everyone, Just received notification from Shropshire Council that the Proposed Solar Farm at Rhosygadfa's status is "AWAITING DECISION". I uderstood that the application had been turned down so what do you all think is going on here?

Fantastic news! Sanity has prevailed! Today has not been one of my best but I am very glad to read this and I thank all concerned for their vailant efforts and especially Bethan and David Lloyd. Best wishes and kind regards to you all Robmit.

Thank you Bethan for your perseverance in this most important matter. I hope as many people as possible will attend this meeting. Sadly I am unable to due to the untimely death of my dear sister.

I read in the Shropshire Star that another Shropshire farmer is also seeking to use agricultural land for solar energy. Greed again! We need food before electricity and there are alternative sources for electricity but, that I know of, for food if the land is used for industrial purposes.

There isn't one! There used to be one of course and there should still be one as waiting for Chester bound trains on Platform Two in poor weather is very uncomfortable. We are very fortunate to have the excellent booking office and waiting room provided on Platform One but this is not a great help when it is necessary to cross the level-crossing well in advance of any approaching train for Chester (which can sometimes be delayed) and this is especially uncomfortable for disabled passengers. The station is now a very busy one attracting passengers from a wide area and especially from Oswestry as can be seen by the full car park on most days and I think we deserve better. I know the racers on the A5 will hate me, but I would love the Cambrian rail link between Gobowen and Oswestry restored.

I for one would be very sad to lose this facility which offers not only the convenience of a good old-fashioned post office and is also the heart of our village which still retains much of its earlier charm. I love the way the Cross Foxes is always so beautifully decorated with its flower displays too.

Hi Bethan, Like you, I am wondering about the disposition of this application. I have not received any information from the Council since the one dated 14th May as per the following:- Construction of a solar farm comprising the installation of (circa) 60,000 ground mounted solar panels; 10 inverters; electricity substation; 27 x 3m high pole mounted CCTV cameras; 2.4m high security fencing Pending Consideration. Rob

The real issue here is that this industrial project is being applied for on good and valuable farmland which is in one of the most attractive areas in our part of Shropshire. Whilst I feel for daily farmers at this time, vegetable crops and wheat are also very important for our economy too. This land is prime agricultural land and should be preserved for such use and no other. I have read that there is another application for such a development along the Montgomery canal and, if we are not very careful, every farmer in the county will be seeking to maximise income at the expense of our natural heritage; such ruination of our beautiful countryside would also be of serious detriment to the tourist industry as well. Industrial developments should only be considered on brown field sites. Solar panels are a great idea in the right places and on rooftops but most definitely not on prime and beautiful agricultural land.

I agree that to be on the safe side we should all keep up the pressure and I have just sent a request to the Planning Department requesting them to acknowledge my earlier objection and to keep me advised of any changes; I did register at the outset though.

I presume and hope that all parties against this application have lodged their objections with the SCC. I did and received an acknowledgment and a confirmation that I would be notified of future events. Since then I have not received any further information from the SCC. I understand from another application for building elsewhere that the SCC is very much behind with its planning application considerations due to cut-backs. When the application does come up for final consideration, bearing in mind that (I hope) many of us have made our objections in writing, are we entitled to attend such a meeting? Rob

Good Morning Bethan, I have not heard anything from the SCC either so I can only assume that the planning department has not yet made any decision. I would surely imagine and hope that any diversion from the original application would be advised to us. I live very close to the site and often walk past it but have not seen any activity there recently.

Good Morning Bethan and everyone, I should like to endorse your comments above. Having returned to my beloved Shropshire only four years ago after a long absence and been somewhat horrified at the partial desecration of Shrewsbury, it was refreshing to see such a good community spirit and fondness for our beautiful countryside and much needed agricultural land.

Thank you Bethan for the information. I hope the meeting in Gobowen will be well attended on Thursday evening as the "applicant" doesn't seem to have much consideration for any of the local residents or the Shropshire countryside.

You are quite right Rosie, that contradictionary information from the Council is confusing and there is no need for you to apologise. I personally feel very grateful to you for keeping an eye on this unfortunate application.

What is happening here? We are told the decision date was in January and we are expecting a local meeting at the Sports pavilion on the 20th and now we hear the decision has already been made.

Thanks Bethan, What would we do without you.

Hi Bethan, Has a time been arranged for the special meeting to be held on 20th November at the Pavillion in Gobowen please?

Hi Bethan, I've just had another look as well and I am disappointed in the lack of interest from English Heritage. Some of our historic landmarks (Lord Hill's Column in Shrewsbury for example) could do with a lot more support from them. Also how the council could possibly have managed to agree to the absolute desecration of Butcher Row in Shrewsbury, where the Council has allowed a concrete bunker of a toilet block right in front of Prince Rupert Hotel, is beyond my comprehension. Let us hope the Council will not allow our beautiful Shropshire countryside to be desecrated as above. Solar panels are a great idea in the RIGHT places but not on useful prime agricultural land; brown field and disused industrial sites are the obvious. I digress so I will shut up FOR NOW!