Solar farm plan puts Spitfire squadron at risk (From Oxford Mail)

Solar farm plan puts Spitfire squadron at risk

3:00pm Monday 6th February 2012 in News By Tom Jennings

PLANS to form a Spitfire squadron in Oxfordshire have been put in jeopardy by a controversial scheme to build a solar farm at Enstone Airfield.

Enstone Flying Club and the Spitfire Club plans to build 12 replicas of the legendary fighter planes by the end of the year at the airfield.

But a scheme to build a 2.9-hectare solar farm across part of the runway could force the project to move out of the county.

The runway is long because it was originally used by Second World War bombers but the plan would see it shortened with solar panels at one end.

The agent for the applicant said the light aircraft that now use the base would still have enough clear runway.

West Oxfordshire District Council, which will decide on the plans on today, received 327 letters of objection and planning officers have recommended refusal.

Enstone Flying Club owner Paul Fowler, the man behind the Spitfire scheme, said: “Having solar panels near an active runway presents very significant hazards to aviation.

“The two most dangerous phases of all flights are landing and take off and having large pieces of glass on the approach would present a very significant danger.

“If you had engine failure you would potentially crash into them. There is also a significant hazard to flying because of the glare coming off the panels. It’s like looking into a giant mirror.”

With no safe place to take off or land, he said he would have to move the Spitfire project to another airfield but said there were no suitable sites in Oxfordshire.

He added: “It would be a tragic loss.”

Mr Fowler said the plan would also force Enstone Flying Club, which has operated from the airfield for 25 years, to close, with the loss of 11 jobs.

Letters objecting to the scheme said the solar farm would have a “devastating impact” on the landscape, “ruin the character of Enstone”, hit the incomes of a “significant number of people” and be “virtually certain” to cause a crash.

The British Gliding Association said: “The proposed development would compromise safety of motor gliding operations at Enstone resulting in total cessation of operations by Oxfordshire Sport Flying.”

Agent Mark Chattoe said the applicant, Lomond Holdings Ltd, was looking to provide energy for nearby Enstone Business Park, which is owned by its sister company, and sell surplus energy to the National Grid.

He said: “The solar farm will be on the western edge of the runway, leaving two thirds available for flying purposes.

“Bearing in mind it was designed to take bomber aircrafts during the Second World War, there is plenty of runway space.”

District council planning officers have recommended refusal, saying it will have an “unacceptable urbanising impact, harmful to the rural character” and would have a “material impact” on the airfield. Members of the uplands area planning subcommittee will decide on the plans from 2pm today at the council’s Woodgreen offices.