Thursday, 10 April 2014

Solar Farm connected in time

Last week the Says Court Solar Farm (pictured here from the Bristol to Yate train) was connected just in time to secure the higher rate of Community Benefit for Westerleigh Parish. Under the agreement, some of the money has to be used in conjunction with Avon Wildlife Trust for on site ecological improvements. The rest will be used for environmental projects in the Parish.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

pity you used spanish labour
and not british

Anonymous said...

pity you used spanish labour
and not british

Anonymous said...

Having read the previous comment, I'm shocked to hear that Spanish labour was used. Why?

I live in this rural area and the vast site is an eyesore but I suppose someone will make lots of money from it. New technology is OK in the right place - I hope our electricity bills become cheaper!

Unknown said...

I'm not sure who the "you" is directed at, the site has been developed on private land by a commercial company. Their website is http://www.sunedison.com. The firm that got the planning permission, AEE Renewables, entered into an agreement with Westerleigh Parish Council that a sum of money would be paid annually into a community benefit fund, in line with Government policy, but neither the Parish Council nor South Glos were involved in the development.

It is disappointing that they didn't use local workers and it shows why it is important to close the skills gap locally. I did take the opportunity when the Parish Council and I had a meeting with the developers to ask about their tax status. I was told that a separate company has been registered in the UK for this solar farm, Says Court Solar Farm Ltd, so they will be paying taxes in this country.