Sidbury Solar Farm plans rejected

A SIN correspondent writes:

‘Although the application for the solar farm on Sidbury Strips was rejected today, one strong supporter was John Dyson, who stated at the EDDC meeting that he was chairman of the Sidmouth Town Council (STC) Planning Committee and although they ,the STC, voted against it he thought that they had made the wrong decision.  At the Development Management Committee (DMC) meeting today he supported the solar farm very strongly. Surely some mistake as the Chair must support the votes of his committee? A breach of regulations?

We would be glad to hear from John as to why he felt he was entitled to speak as Chair against the views of his committee.

We also understand that Sir John Cave, (he of the Sidford Employment Land) was the promoter of the scheme….’

Apparently, most of the  DMC members spoke strongly against the encroachment on AONB land!!  What , then, of Sidford AONB as  a planned business park?

Here’s the present view looking towards Sidford Fields ; an aerial view of the Sidford Employment Land proposed site, showing its scale, its proximity to housing, the narrow country road to Sidbury alongside it; a view of the site with Trow Hill in the background; a typical existing business park, just 15 minutes’ drive away.