PLANS for a 23 acre solar panel farm have received a warm welcome by several people who attended a community session to test the public’s support for the scheme.

The open session in Guisborough attracted dozens of people who wanted to know more about the project to erect the panels on land at Woodhouse Farm, Middlesbrough Road, Guisborough, just off the A171.

Lightsource Renewable Energy held the three hour community consultation in Sunnyfield House in the town on Thursday (April 2).

Project developer Mark Noone was one of several staff from the renewable energy firm who was on hand to answer questions from members of the public.

“There has been a steady flow of people coming through the doors and the vast majority of people have been positive about the scheme,” he said.

“The site was chosen because it will not be seen from the town as it will be masked by the trees and hedgerows that surround the land. We believe that the site will be ideal for the solar farm.

“We would like to reassure people that the solar farm will only be granted temporary planning permission for the life of the panels, approximately 25 years, and then it can be returned to its original condition.

"One of the benefits of the temporary permission is that it means it will not become a brownfield site which could lead to a different type of development taking place.”

The solar panels will stand at 2.5m high so the existing trees and hedgerows in and around the site will be retained and managed as part of the project.

Among the local residents who had a look at the plans were John Rogerson, who said: “It doesn’t look like you will be able to the solar farm from the road or from the town so I would definitely prefer solar to the thought of wind turbines.”

And Terry Henderson said: “I wanted to see for myself what it (the solar farm) would look like and it doesn’t look as though it would be big or too noticeable.”

Residents wishing to view the initial proposal in more detail or make suggestions to the Lightsource Planning team can visit lightsource-re.co.uk, click In-House Planning and type the site name Guisborough into the search box.

An online feedback form is also available on the page.