Bloomfield Hatch protests as farmer could lose herd herd to solar farm plans

Farmers of Bloomfield Hatch, Steve and Joni Davies, would lose 100 cattle and half their income after 38 years as tenants.

The solar panel farm would reduce CO2 emissions by enough to offset 1,934 family cars over its 30-year lifespan.

“I would be well upset really. Even though council have always been good landlords - they’re just doing what they think they need to do.

Joni Davies stands next to maize grown on the farm

“It’s just a shame to see all this lovely countryside taken up by something like solar panels.”

READ MORE: Lidl opens new store with bakery tomorrow

Protestors have gathered at the farm tonight (August 17) at 7.30pm to stop members of the West Berkshire Council planning committee attending a pre-decision site meeting.

Maize and 100 pedigree cattle are reared on the farm, which have won awards at the Royal Berkshire Show and the Reading and Wokingham Agricultural Society.

If the plans go ahead, Mr Davies would still be able to rear 36,000 chickens in buildings on the farm, but he said he’d rather see a Government plan for solar panels on top of more houses.

“I wouldn’t want to stop something just for me, I just think that as a national we shouldn’t be taking up farmland that’s producing food.”

Solar farms account for 0.08 per cent of total UK land use, according to Horizon Power and Energy.

Cattle on Bloomfield Hatch Farm

Spokesperson Ernie Shelton said: “Whilst we acknowledge that solar farms can result in a small loss of agricultural land, this should be contrasted against the much larger impacts associated with climate change.

READ MORE: Apology after crossroads closure causes 'utter chaos'

“Recent experiences have served to illustrate how crop yields are being significantly impacted by higher temperatures and drought. 

“Depending upon the region and crop, some farm yields are reportedly down by 10-50 per cent and the impacts include potatoes, carrots, onions, sugar beet, apples, corn and hops. 

“The failure to address climate change will have a very material impact on farming, one which will far exceed any impacts associated with renewable energy generation.”

The proposed solar farm would generate electricity equivalent to the needs of approximately 7,570 homes within the UK.

Objections to the plan, made by 29 people on the council’s website, include concerns for green space, food security, property value, and safety worries surrounding the speed of the road used to access the site.

Bloomfield Hatch Farm

When asked for comment, a spokesperson for the Environment Team at West Berkshire Council said that because the plans were part of a “live planning application” it “is therefore not right for the Council to comment in detail about the issues that have been raised by your enquiry.”

READ MORE: Group leap from car on M4 at Reading and attack Audi with weapons

They continued: “The Council, in its role as ‘applicant’ has worked closely with the tenants at Bloomfield Hatch Farm and has provided many opportunities for engagement with nearby residents and businesses over a number of months.

“We have held drop-in sessions for residents and businesses, face-to-face meetings onsite, hand delivered information packs to all residents and businesses within a 1 miles radius of the site (220 addresses) which included a returnable questionnaire survey, and we set up an online survey to the consultation.”

The proposed solar farm would generate electricity equivalent to the needs of approximately 7,570 homes within the UK.

Solar farms account for 0.08 per cent of total UK land use, according to Horizon Power and Energy.

Protestor Neil Callan, chair of Bloomfield Hatch Residents Association, said: “They haven’t taken on board anything that local residents are concerned about.”

He continued: “We just feel totally ignored.”