West Dorset villagers say they are 'disappointed' after controversial plans to build a new solar panel farm onin an AONB was approved.

Dorset Community Energy and Local Energy Bridport have been given permission to install 388 of the green energy units across 12 rows on farmland to the west of Atrim Road in Dottery, near Bridport.

Associated fencing, cameras and access also form part of the plans, which have been approved by Dorset Council's planning committee.

The area of the farm will be 140 metres long and between 25-45 metres wide, with an operational area of 1,200 square metres

Proposals have not been welcomed by Dottery locals, who are concerned about the impact the panels will have on what is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Visibility of the vast countryside views will also be affected, they argue, while they add that it would be better to continue using the land for food production.

John Davies, from Dottery, has long been opposed to the plans and spoke at last month's planning meeting to object to them.

He added that a well-used footpath connecting the village with Bridport runs next to the proposed solar farm.

"More than 85 per cent of the community here in Dottery are opposed to it and that is not just the people who are directly next to it," Mr Davies said.

"AONB's should have the highest protection and the benefits for this are so small - yet we are allowing it to go ahead on what should be a protected landscape.

"As a community we are very disappointed and do not feel we have been listened to.

"It seems that renewable energy trumps everything else - that is very much the way it feels."

Mr Davies felt the approval of the Dottery solar farm would set a 'dangerous precedent' for future schemes in AONB's.

"We just feel quite powerless - we are quite a small community and it is hard to get our voices heard.

"I can't believe it is not going to be used for food production - you can see the quality of the wheat being produced."

The Dottery villager said the only option now would be to legally challenge the plans - which he said would rely on there being 'something wrong with the process'.

He added that what is being promised by Government ministers regarding building solar farms on useable farmland is 'not being translated at a local level'.

"It is that juxtoposition between national policy and what the Government is saying and what is actually happening at a council level."

Dorset Council planning officers say the location of the planned solar farm is 'sustainable' and 'acceptable' in terms of design and visual impact. 

"There is not considered to be any significant harm to neighbouring residential amenity," they add.

Dorset Community Energy and Local Energy Bridport argue that the 'overall character' of the area would 'remain unchanged' as no vegetation is to be removed to facilitate the development.

"The land will be used sustainably and in turn reduce carbon emissions through installation of solar PV panels," they say via a design and access statement written by developers Jackson Planning. 

To view the plans in more detail, search for P/FUL/2022/05708 on Dorset Council's planning portal.