DESPITE concerns that a deal-sealing £250,000 grant to the local community might not materialise, approval has been given to a new solar farm in the green belt between Ockendon and Bulphan.

At last night's meeting (Thursday, 21 April) of Thurrock Council's planning committee the scheme (detailed in this Nub News story last week) for the site found favour with councillors after they were addressed by an energy planning expert.

Owen Saward, whose presentation can be seen in our video, told councillors that as part of the deal, the company behind the scheme had held meetings with local residents, who had given assent to it after being told the local community would get the cash grant to improve community facilities.

However, when it came to a debate on the project, members asked for more details and were somewhat wary when it became clear that the grant might not happen in full – or even at all.

Planning offiocer Matthew Gallagher told members: "It's outside the planning remit, it would be a gentleman's agreement." He said it could not legally be enforced but added: "Personally I think they will do it because if they don't there will be problems for them."

That prompted Orsett ward councillor Sue Little – who said she believed residents would have raised objections to the scheme without the cash sweetener - to say: "This is a borough-wide rural asset we are giving up. If it had not been for the sweetener I think we would have said 'no' so I hope they honour the agreement. It was sold to the residents on that basis.

"Now I am a little bit concerned. With all due respect, they could go home and say that they don't have to pay a quarter of a million pounds. This is disappointing. I do feel very strongly that the money is what persuaded residents not to object. I will be very disappointed if that quarter of a million just went."

Cllr Georgette Polley also expressed concern about the lack of detail about the cash grant, saying: "There are too many questions. I think there needs to be more consultation about how the grant will operate. The site will be there for 40 years, over its life thats £6,000 a year if they spread it out. How will that be managed?"

Nevertheless approval was granted for the scheme - with the developers saying at the end of its 40 year operation all the panels will be removed and the site returned to green belt status.