TOLLER Porcorum parish council has welcomed plans for a 19-hectare solar site at Wraxall Manor Farm.

In its comments on the site planning application it asks for reassurances over adequate hedge screening on the A356.

Historic England, in its comments, has asked for additional space around a Bronze Age bowl barrow, but has not objected to the solar farm.

It says the barrow, 1km south west of Manor Farm, has already been reduced by ploughing and needs further protection.

The application, from BSR Energy Ltd, could eventually provide 13.5Megawatts of power if approved.

Further comments on the application remain open until April 9th.

The two-field site is to the north east of the A356, bound by the road leading to Higher Wraxall half a mile away to the north; Wraxall Woods to the north east and agricultural land to the south. It is within the Maiden Newton ward and south east of an existing solar farm at Rampisham Park.

Access to the site is proposed from Kingcombe Lane. No public rights of way cross the site although there are paths and a bridleways nearby to the south west.

Several Sites of Nature Conservation Interest are listed as being in the wider area, including the Kingcombe Meadows Nature Reserve, along with patches of recognised ancient woodland and Sites of Specific Scientific Interest at Rampisham and Toller Porcorum.

A number of listed buildings are within 2km of the site including Lower Kingcombe Farmhouse, Wraxall Manor and the parish Church of St Mary and the church of St Michael and All Angels.

If approved construction on the site is expected to last six months although after that visits to the site will only be infrequently for essential repair and maintenance and habitat management.

The expected working life of the panels has been put at 40 years after which the site could be cleared.