Block solar farms and face punitive costs, councils warned

摘要

A West Country MP has claimed councils are approving solar farms, because they are scared of the 'punitive costs' they face if they reject them. Speaking in the House of Commons on 8 September, Sarah Wollaston, said: 'District councils are under great pressure to accept these applications. 'When they turn them down, they're overturned on appeal with punitive costs.' She added local politicians were 'disappointed' after the Government did not call in plans for 45,000 solar panels to be built at Diptford in South Devon. In response, the planning minister, Kris Hopkins offered to meet with Ms Wollaston to discuss her concerns. 'I should emphasise that the solution to giving confidence to a local council about the decisions it makes, and to the community, is to have a secure local plan, under which people clearly determine what they want to be built in their area,' added Mr Hopkins.