Planners put off decision on solar farm on former waste site

FEARS about underground chemical waste led planning chiefs to defer consideration of a  major plan for a solar farm on the Warrington-Widnes border.
The scheme involves a 25 hectare site, formerly used for landfill and which is understood to contain hazardous waste material from a former nearby chemical works.
Most of the site, including the area where the solar farm will actually be built, lies within Widnes and Halton Borough Council has already granted planning consent. But Warrington’s development management committee put off a decision to allow time for more information to be obtained and to allow an Environment Agency representative to attend.
Work on the Warrington section of the site – which is in the Green Belt – involves importing inert materials to raise the level of the land as part of remediation of the whole site.
The site is split by Johnson’s Lane – a rough track – and the area consists mainly of three plateaus and a ravine.  The solar farm – which will be entirely within Widnes, will produce renewable electricity obtained directly from the sun using photovoltaic technology. A fast response power plant will provide electricity to the local distribution network when demand outstrips supply.
This reactive plant can be fully operational within 40 seconds of being activated and would normally operate for very short periods during peak demand times.
On the Warrington section of the site,  work will include reinstating a piped section of Johnson’s Brook, landscaping, drainage improvements and measures to minimise contamination of the watercourse from existing landfill.
The whole project is expected to take 36 months to complete.
Warrington councillor David Keane has objected to the proposals on the grounds that it will impact on the openness of the Green Belt.
He says: “This particular area of Green Belt is very narrow and separates the Warrington area from Widnes, thus avoiding urban sprawl. I believe that impact of this proposal will be harmful to the Green Belt and substantially detract from its purpose as a buffer thus substantially altering the nature and feel of the area.”
Planning officers admit the development is inappropriate in the Green Belt but say there are special circumstances which outweigh this, including   significant environmental benefits,  removing a threat to human health and limiting impact to controlled waters, along with the overall visual improvements of the site.
They are recommending the scheme be approved