Solar plan 'hazard' for skydiving club near Whitchurch

The proposed 70,000-panel solar farm at Twemlows Stud Farm, near Whitchurch, will be on the former RAF Tilstock airfield, used today by the Parachute Club in Prees Heath.

The club attracts hundreds of people a week from as far as Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, north and Mid Wales – many taking part in, and showing support for, charity skydives.

A member of the club said the solar farm would "seriously restrict" activity at the club and put jobs at risk.

Developers Vogt Solar originally described the proposed site as a disused airfield, but the parachute club member, who did not want to be named, said that was far from the case.

He said the airfield, now owned by Twemlows Stud, had been in constant use since it was an RAF base in 1943. It became a general civilian airfield in 1958 and there had been skydiving there since 1965, he said. "We've got a club house building just inside the airfield gate and the 60 acres we use is the site for development.

"We're the only parachute club within a 100 mile radius. Each weekend we have at least 300 people coming to the area. The majority of these are raising money for charity, and spending money in the local community.

"The landowner has offered us an alternative field but it would seriously restrict our operation and the number of jumps we could do. The solar panels would be a major hazard to parachuting."

He said it would mean only highly experienced jumpers would be able to skydive safely, and it would bar novices from jumping.

"It would certainly affect jobs at the club," he said, with 10 to 15 tandem skydiving instructors operating there.

A planning application has yet to be submitted for the 16.3 megawatt solar farm, which was revealed by Vogt Solar last week.

A spokesman for the Vogt Solar said: "The landowner is in discussions with the club to work with them to find other areas of the farm they could use. The club will still have access to a runway should the solar farm be developed, and the landowner believes the charity tandem jumps will still be able to take place.

"The landowner has been exploring uses for land on the farm that would enable the Stud to diversify and generate other income streams, in order for the business to remain viable."

The scheme would involve planting a mixed species grass and wildflower meadow around the panels to extend conservation work being done at the nearby Special Scientific Interest at Prees Heath, the firm said.

The firm is showing the plans on April 9 at Ash Magna Village Hall, from 3pm to 7pm.