By Harry Mottram: Opinions in south Bath are sharply divided over a planning application to install solar panels and a ground source heat pump at Rainbow Wood House on Widcombe Hill. The objections to the application reference 25/04417/FUL heavily outnumber those supporting the plans as is not unusual in these cases but the debate about the plans are noted for their contrast of opinion.
Those against the plans at the Grade II Listed mansion set in expansive grounds say the solar panels will: ‘generate far more power than can possibly be needed solely for domestic purposes.’ And it is green belt land and the ‘development affects land which forms part of the panoramic views from the Bath Skyline Trail.’
The Skyline Trail is mentioned in the numerous objections which has a website to campaign against the plans at https://savebathskyline.com/ with tips on how to object and the wording and arguments they can use at the council’s planning portal.
The website goes on to make allegations against the owners of Rainbow Wood House (pictured): ‘This proposed development is to take place on Green Belt land and the proposed site of the solar array is designated as an SNCI (a Site of Nature Conservation Importance), which can only be developed in “very exceptional circumstances”. The owner has allowed the SNCI to degrade and is using the degradation to argue that solar is appropriate for a degraded site.’ By degrading judging by their photographic evidence they may mean the land has weeds and bushes growing there.
However the plans are supported by The Widcombe Association, who said in a letter they ‘believe that there will be little or no harm to the quality of the Green Belt, the Bath Conservation Area, the Cotswolds Natural Landscape or the World Heritage Site from this scheme.’
One supporter wrote on the planning portal: “A significant proportion of objections appear to be based on factually incorrect claims circulated via a coordinated social media campaign, rather than on the actual planning documents available on the Planning Portal. Many comments repeat identical wording, suggesting that objectors have not reviewed the independent technical evidence submitted with the application. Posters litter the Bath Skyline Trail and have been tied to trees with plastic zip ties and plastic wallets (not very environmentally sound or good for the animals and birds). The narrative promoted online is misleading.
“This is not a solar farm on public land or Bathwick Meadows (as suggested by the photo); it is a domestic-scale array on private land, carefully located and screened. Claims about visual harm, loss of trees, and ecological damage are directly contradicted by the LVIA [Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment], arboricultural statement, and ecological reports.”
Now it is up to the planners to review all the evident and the application before a decision is made.
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