Please do your bit to stop the spread of ugly and unnecessary solar panels in the South Devon countryside by helping us present a compelling case at appeal

Our local council refused this proposal to build a huge solar development on productive farmland earlier this year for many good reasons including the strong possibility that there are Neolithic remains on the site. Despite overwhelming public opposition and not having carried out the necessary digs the developers are pressing ahead via appeal. We need to raise £3000 for legal fees, although our initial target on this site is £1500. Every pound you give will help!

Details of the case so far

• A solar developer is proposing to build a huge solar farm just 30 metres from a historic hamlet in the beautiful South Devon countryside
• This application was rejected in June 2015 because it would ruin the setting of a listed building, damage enjoyment of the public footpath that runs next to the site, that it would destroy a valuable landscape and an area of tranquility.
• There are already 4 solar farms within 5km of the proposed development and the Council said that this solar development was a step too far
• It will ruin people’s enjoyment of the countryside and damage tourism in South Devon
• We are battling to defeat this proposal by challenging the developer’s appeal to the Planning Inspectorate

Why we need your support

This solar farm should not be built. Not only would it be a blot on the landscape, it would harm the local economy and doesn’t fit in with national renewable energy policy. This is an issue of local democracy. These developers should not be allowed to make millions while riding roughshod over local people.

View of the proposed site from the public footpath with two existing solar parks and Dartmoor in the distance (on a misty day!)

How much are we raising and what is it for?

We are raising £3000 to pay an expert legal team to represent local objectors who otherwise would struggle to get their point across during the appeal - as a minimum, we are hoping to raise £1500 of this through crowdfunding.

About the claimant

The Campaign Against the Harberton Solar Industrial Estate is a group of ordinary local people who, as well as holding down day jobs, are working hard, with the support of the community, to stop the construction of a huge solar farm in the middle of productive and beautiful farmland.

Fast facts

##Name of Case **Campaign Against the Harberton Solar Industrial Estate**: Planning Appeal APP/K1128/W/15/3135465 to consider South Hams District Council’s Refusal of a planning application for the installation of ground mounted solar arrays (total site 94,000m2) estimated output 5MW on open farmland in South Devon. ##What's at stake industrialisation of the countryside via 24.5 acres of productive farmland being turned over to solar panels and scarring the landscape in the foothills of Dartmoor for the next 25 years ##What's the next step We have to present a complex legal case to defend the appeal at a hearing date that is likely to be in early 2016 ##Our legal representatives Richard Buxton Environmental and Public Law, Lisa Foster