A MASSIVE solar farm covering 200 acres of farmland is being proposed between Alderbury and Downton.

The Journal has learned that Hive Energy is looking to build on land at Witherington Farm close to the hamlet of Standlynch.

If approved the park would be one of the biggest projects of its kind in the UK, producing enough electricity to power 12,000 homes each year and cut annual carbon emissions by 17,200 tonnes.

The plans are set to be unveiled at a public consultation tomorrow between 3pm and 7pm at Downton Memorial Hall.

However, the former chairman of Downton Parish Council Chris Hall contacted the Journal with fears that the consultation was being kept quiet.

He said: “My greatest concern is that this is almost a secret public exhibition and I think it is appalling that we haven’t been informed of it.

“The solar park proposals I believe are for 200 acres, which is a huge site and if approved could possibly be seen from Salisbury.”

However, at short notice, representatives from Hive Energy met members of Downton Parish Council on Monday night.

Chairman of Downton Parish Council Dave Mace said: “Hive Energy has been working on this project for over a year and some members felt concerned that there had been no consultation with the parish council.

“We invited them to attend our meeting because we were given just six days’ notice of the exhibition on Friday and many of our members work at the time specified, which was one o’clock.

“No views have been officially formulated to represent the parish council at this stage, but there are some concerns of part of the site being an SSSI designated area with the right to roam on some of the stretch. There will be a visual impact and the site could be seen from Salisbury and Alderbury.”

A Hive Energy spokesman said: “Because of the sparsely populated nature of the area, a letter was sent earlier this week to all residents in the parish within a 1.5km radius of the site, a much large area than is typically the case given the likely lack of any impact of a solar park.”

Hive Energy managing director Hugh Brennan said: “When we’re creating a solar park, it’s really important for us to be a good neighbour and strike a balance between creating energy, and local people, wildlife and agriculture.

“Before we brought this site at Witherington Farm forward, we carefully evaluated it.

“Our consultation is an opportunity for us to listen to what people living locally have to say, and also to hear other ideas for deserving projects in the local community we could financially support.”