PLANS for yet another solar farm in Crow country could see over 70 acres of land covered with solar panels.

Renewable energy firm Push Energy is looking to build the farm, which could provide enough energy to power 3,570 homes, at Highfield Farm, off Old North Road between Royston and Bassingbourn.

Residents will get a chance to see the plans for themselves at an exhibition on Monday, July 29.

Stuart Bradshaw, chief executive for Push Energy, said: “We are pleased to invite residents to come and see first-hand our plans for a solar farm in Bassingbourn.

“We look forward to working with the local community and are keen to hear people’s views. We have selected the site for this project as it receives good levels of sunlight, can easily be connected to the National Grid, is relatively flat and is without any buildings or landscape features that could cause overshadowing.”

The 71-acre solar farm would generate 15.3MWp of electricity, enough energy to service 3,570 homes in the area. The panels would be mounted between 0.8m-2m off the ground to allow the land to continue in agricultural use.

Push Energy is already planning to build a 50-acre solar farm at Wisbridge Farm, Barkway, which was granted planning permission earlier this year despite opposition from residents.

Another company, Lightsource Renewable Energy, is proposing a similar farm at Thrift Farm, near Therfield, as farmers look to take advantage of government subsidies available to those who use their land to produce green energy.

Campaigner Clive Porter has run petitions against other solar farms in the area, and believes the land should be preserved for agricultural use.

He said: “I can’t believe another one of these farms is being planned, soon we’ll have no land left for growing crops or grazing animals.”

The exhibition will run from 4.30pm-8pm at Bassingbourn Sports Centre, at Bassingbourn Village College.

*What do you think? Are solar farms a good thing for the area? Email postbag@royston-crow.co.uk.