Isfield & Little Horsted

SOLAR FARM: The controversial solar power farm on the Bentley Estate at Little Horsted may be expanded. Lightsource Renewable Energy, the national company which last year won an appeal against Wealden District Council's decision to refuse planning permission for the farm on land adjoining Bradfords Lane, has indicated that it is considering proceeding with the second half of its scheme. Simon Autie, chairman of Little Horsted Parish Meeting, tells local residents in a newsletter that a meeting of residents, Lightsource and officials of Little Horsted Parish Meeting and East Hoathly Parish Council, will be held at Little Horsted School next Thursday (February 4) at 6.30pm. Lightsource will tell the meeting of its latest proposals, and at a later session that evening, the annual meeting of Little Horsted Parish, time will be given for discussion. Representatives of Lightsource and East Hoathly will not take part in the second meeting. The original plans were for solar panels to be built across some 60 acres of land at Bentley, about two-thirds of which falls within East Hoathly parish and the remainder in Little Horsted. The intention had been to feed power into the national network for the benefit of some 2,400 local homes.