‘We’re being asked to give up prime agricultural land for a sea of glass’

Plans for a 300-acre solar farm in the Ardcath area have been met by strong opposition from local residents who say the proposal will have a detrimental impact on the character of the area due to the elevation of the proposed site.

Obton Limited is seeking a ten-year planning permission to construct and complete a solar PV energy development at Hawkinstown, Riverstown, Scatternagh, Balgeeth, Ardcath, Co Meath. The proposed solar farm would be operational for a period of 35 years.

Local residents have held a number of meetings on the proposal and are now preparing submissions where they will outline their objections to the plans. They say they are not opposed to solar farms, but that this is the wrong location and claim the development would have a massive visual impact on homes in the area.

It is the second solar farm proposal in a 4km radius with a separate proposal currently under construction at Hilltown.

Eoin O'Sullivan who grew up in Ardcath and recently built his own home, said their biggest issue is the geographical height of the site. “It is on high ground where it will be seen from 15-20 houses. It is a huge visual disruption. It will have an adverse affect on the character of the area and is the wrong location.

“If accepted, this will be the second 300 acre solar farm within a 4km radius as another is currently under construction in Hilltown, the opposite side of Pudden Hill to the Ardcath proposal.” Mr O'Sullivan claimed solar farm developers were targeting an existing network of 110kv cables which run through the area and represent an ease of connection to the national grid.

“The difference between the two areas is that the Hilltown Solar Farm is out of view but the more recent Ardcath proposal represents a massive visual disruption to residents throughout the area and if accepted, I feel it will set a whole new precedent for planning law throughout the country as Balgeeth is 120ms above sea level and Hawkinstown in 90m above sea level with many residents overseeing the area in question.”

Residents also say that at a time when farmers are being encouraged to grow crops to combat food shortages, this proposal would see good agricultural land given over to solar panels.

“This year farmers were asked by the government to plant corn and wheat on their lands to assist with the availability issue due to the war in Ukraine. Here we are, giving up prime agricultural land and are proposing to cover it in a sea of glass for years to come. Surely there is better suited, marginal lands which would be more appropriate. One acre of land can product five tonnes of corn per annum, so this area could potentially produce 1,500 tonne of corn per year to assist with the crisis."

Eoin also said the proposal would be catastrophic for the habitat of a number of protected species in the area including yellowhammers, partridges, owls and pine martens.

Another resident Ambrose O'Sullivan said: “We are not against solar panels but we are against the proximity of these solar panels to our homes and the amount of them. One of the most scenic areas of County Meath will be destroyed with glass for the next 40 years.”

He added that at a time when calls are being made to grow more grain and food, “it is ridiculous putting so many acres of good agricultural land in Co Meath in solar panels” and said the area is “saturated” with plans for solar farms with four of them in the general area.

Submissions can be made until 31st May with a decision due to be made by Meath County Council on 21st June.