Developers are hoping to win appeals over two rejected solar farm applications near Newark after making changes to them.
However, one district councillor claims the proposals are little different, and still aren’t suitable.
The Knapthorpe Solar Farm and Muskham Wood Solar Farm would have covered a total of 145 hectares of agricultural land in Caunton, near Newark.
Both plans were rejected by Newark and Sherwood District Council’s planning committee in November, but the applicants have launched appeals.
They have made modifications to try to make the plans more acceptable, and have submitted them to the government’s Planning Inspectorate body.
However, a councillor told a meeting in which the council prepared its defence that the new changes made very little difference.
In the Knapthorpe Solar Farm application, it is proposed to remove a section of solar panels from near one of the public footpaths.
For the Muskham Wood application, the developer is willing to remove panels from a field in the north-east corner, which is next to a residential property.
Developers are allowed to make reasonable changes in response to feedback when launching appeals, in order to speed the process up.
Residents will be able to submit comments on the amended plans to the Planning Inspectorate.
Sue Saddington, who represents the area, said: “There has been very little change on the applications. We are here tonight to discuss what wasn’t suitable before.”
Most of Tuesday’s (May 28) meeting was held behind closed doors to prevent giving away information about the council’s defence.
Mrs Saddington expressed disappointment about the closed nature of the meeting, saying: “This is a very big application, and very important to residents.
“We need to be transparent about it.”
The committee chairman Andy Freeman responded: “Giving the other side our grounds for argument wouldn’t be in best interest of council or our constituents.”
The two solar applications have been submitted by different companies, but are registered to the same address and have the same owners.
They were turned down on the grounds that they would take good quality farmland out of use for 40 years.
Residents at the planning meeting in November held signs reading: ‘Say no to the solar invasion’.
A date and venue for the appeals are yet to be confirmed.
