THURROCK Council's planning committee has this evening (Thursday, 23 September) given approval to a large solar farm on the edge of Bulphan.

Reservations were expressed by a number of councillors, who had made a site visit after deferring a decision at a previous meeting, including committee chair Cllr Tom Kelly.

He said: "It's not something I am massively happy about, we are losing a massive part of the fens.

"I have reservations and am slightly nervous about the technology being used , but we have been assured by officers.

"In a sense it's a funny one, I don't think it's fantastic but it's one of those difficult decisions we have to make on planning."

Cllr Kelly ended up voting in favour and the application was approved 4-3, with Cllrs Steve Liddiard, Terry Piccolo and Abbie Akinbohun also supporting it. Cllrs Georgette Polley, Mike Fletcher and Lee Watson voted against.