Solar farm deal backed but critics say it 'rewards failure' by company

COUNCILLORS keen to get South West Water (SWW) to build a new solar farm in Torbay are sticking to their guns despite efforts to get them to change their minds.

- by GUY HENDERSON Local Democracy Reporter

Torbay Council decided a year ago to build the solar farm at Brokenbury and sell the power to the utility company, borrowing £2.75 million to do so. But earlier this year the Conservative administration changed tack.

It decided the risks of taking on the project were too high, and that the council didn't have a good track record in delivering major projects itself.

It had also been unable to agree a price with SWW for the electricity, which would be used to power the sewage treatment plant next door.

Instead, it opted to lease the land, near Churston Ferrers, to the water company and get it to build the solar farm instead. The council would pocket the money from the lease without the risk of taking on the building project.