WEST Devon borough councillors will visit the site of a solar panel array at Whiddon Down to judge its visual impact on the area.

E-tricity Limited submitted a planning application for the retention of a ground-mounted solar photovoltaic array at Narraway Farm. Made up of 206 modules in two rows, the array has been constructed in a single linear arrangement, with the PV array following the field's line of hedgebanks. A further screening hedgebank would be created to replace a hedgebank removed during the construction of the panels. The proposed hedgerow would screen the development from the A30.

In his report, case officer Louis Dulling recommended to grant the application. At the borough council's planning meeting on June 19, planning officer Laura Batham said: 'The array is not considered to be significantly detrimental to the characteristics of the site due to the additional screening hedgerow.'

But councillors decided to see the site for themselves.

Cllr Terry Pearce said: 'The reason I want a site visit is because of the concerns of the parish council, and because we are being asked to decide on something that has a number of inconsistencies.'

Drewsteignton Parish Council objected to the proposal, citing that 'the development could be considered sporadic development in open countryside', and for inconsistencies in the application.

Cllr Bob Baldwin said: 'The thing that has me and other councillors concerned is that it has already been erected, and we are worried about the retrospective aspect.'