The planning application for a 55 acre solar farm on the inner field of Castle Combe Circuit has been submitted by UK companies Solafields & Vogt Solar and they want to hear what you, the people that use the circuit think about it!
A page has been set up on the Wiltshire Council Planning Website where you can submit a comment and (hopefully!) show your support for the proposal!
Go to the webpage:http://planning.wiltshire.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/ApplicationSearch.aspxand quote reference number 14/06821/FUL.
Information on the planned Solar Farm at Castle Combe Circuit
The solar farm will produce enough renewable electricity to power approx. 4000 homes, saving the production of nearly 6000 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide each year
A £50 000 Community Benefit Fund will be established to support local projects including improvements in energy efficiency, the aim is to work with local residents & council representatives to explore how best to use the fundA full Biodiversity Management Plan will be implemented and maintained under the management of Vogt Solar's Site Ranger. The area beneath the panels will be planted with mixed grasses to create a meadow & improve biodiversity. Areas of the site of archaeological significance will be left as open grassland for ground nesting birds
The upgrades to the electricity network will benefit the local area with new underground connections made from the site to the Chippenham substation. This new network could also enable electric car racing at the circuit in the futureThe build will take approx. 16 weeks with vehicles accessing the site through existing roads and entrances. A Construction Traffic Management Plan will ensure private driveways are not obstructed by delivery vehicles
There will be minimal visual impact with hedges and trees already screening most of the site. The panels themselves are less than 2 metres in height and no additional pylons will be needed to connect the site to the grid. Panels are built to absorb light, not reflect it so there will be no effect to racing drivers, spectators or users of surroundin
