Concerned residents met with a North East council leader over development plans for “clusters” of solar and wind farms in the area.

Residents met with Darlington Borough Council Leader Jonathan Dulston at a Parish meeting in Bishopton Village Hall yesterday (April 24) to discuss the development plans for JBM's Byers Gill solar farm, as well as other developments.

A number of issues were raised with some residents saying that the development was “going to change our lives for 40 years.”

Issues over HGVs near schools and on roads, increased traffic, carbon emissions, wildlife and agriculture were also discussed at the meeting.

Read more: JBM Solar progresses plans for new Byers Gill Solar project

Further concerns were raised by residents over the Gately Moor, Byers Gill, and Longpasture Farm developments, as well as others which will be situated close to or within the town.

Jonathan Dulston said the cabinet is "yet to make its position," but will be making a decision in the coming weeks.

Residents said they were not against solar or wind farms, but were concerned over the effect it would have on agriculture in the area.

One resident pointed to DBC's conservation area document for Bishopton Village and said: "Will you look at the obligations of the council in this document to maintain the character, the appeal, the aspect, the outlook, the visual appearance of the village which is all documented in your own conservation area document?"

Dulston said this will all be considered in any potential planning decisions.

Read more: Plans submitted for solar farm just outside Darlington

Another concerned resident said: "I've met with the school, the school know virtually nothing about this. I've got a little girl that goes to the school, everyone else [who] has done drop-off [there], you'll know pick-up is horrendous.

"If you look at some of the specific things that are in JBM's plan for this, one of the things that they are saying is that there will be up to 100 HGVs a day going up and down this village.

"I can't believe this has got to this level without saying that it is not acceptable."

They said residents were looking for a level of assurance the planning committee are speaking to local police and highways to ensure this is factored into forming the official council response.

"This is not just about looking out your window and seeing a solar panel, this is going to change our lives for 40 years," he added.

"There's people that have lived in this village for longer than 40 years and they've stayed here for a reason, there's people like me that have been here for a relatively short period.

"We moved here for a reason, this is a rural community."

Residents said they were concerned over potential drops in house value, and questioned whether the government would compensate them if this were to happen.

One resident read from a script, taken from a video which would be used to voice their feelings about what was happening to their village.

They said: "A huge invasion of solar farms, and make no mistake, an invasion is what it is.

"If plans are passed, our village will become engulfed.

"What have we done to deserve the destruction of our countryside and our views?

"Solar farms are an industrial eyesore and will devalue our homes. The transformation will be horrendous."

"The Byers Gill proposal is an act of gross industrialisation in one of the prettiest villages in the UK. In our view, that is completely unacceptable."

Dulston told residents he understood how they felt and said he would feel the same, and assured them their voice is being heard at a ministerial level.

Dulston said the council will act as a consultee for the Byers Gill development plans and they will give an official position to planning inspectors.

Speaking at the start of the meeting, Jonathan Dulston said: "We are absolutely committed to our rural committees, I can understand why you will feel isolated, why you will often not feel part of anything, whether that's Stockton, Darlington, or indeed your constituency which is Sedgefield."

"I go to a lot of community events around Darlington and this is probably one of the largest audiences we've had," he added.

"The impact it's having on you guys is really significant, we understand that.

"We need to make sure that all of the concerns you have are heard by government, are heard by the planning committee, because it's really important this isn't lost."

Read next:

For more quality journalism, subscribe to The Northern Echo here.

He also said the council need to do more to communicate with the rural community, and they will ensure DBC has a greater presence in the village in future.

Dulston said the issues the Bishopton community has been facing have been raised with Michael Gove, Levelling Up Secretary, after a visit to Darlington on Monday.

He said the cabinet will likely meet after the local elections to discuss the subject, and then formalise a draft review which will then go to a cabinet meeting, and a decision will be taken after this.