Council recommend 'grey belt plans for 'massive' solar farm

COMMITTEE CHAIR SAID HE COULD NOT REMAIN IMPARTIAL

- By JENNY SEYMOUR

THE chair of Mole Valley District Council's planning committee was due to walk out of the chamber when a plan for a huge solar farm was decided last night.

Councillor Phil Hammond said labelling the area as a 'grey belt' had enormous implications for the district's countryside and the county and was something he could not remain impartial on.

He was due to leave his post and the chamber while the application was debated, the first time he had done that in two years chairing the committee.

The application for the 52-hectare solar farm adjacent to Cobham Road in Fetcham, which borders the River Mole to the north, was due for a decision.