A SECOND consultation event on plans for a 17 hectare solar farm on the outskirts of Callington, which would be the first of its kind in the UK, will take place next Monday (March 14).

Callington Town Council has asked for the consultation deadline over the plans to be extended so more people can give their views on the scheme, which would see more than 15,000 solar panels installed on land at Haye Lane.

A consultation held at the end of last year was not well attended and local people against the project claimed it was because it was not well advertised.

Senior director at SunPower Corporation UK Ltd Sean Murphy said this week he welcomed the decision of the town council's planning committee to defer its decision and would clarify and provide further information relating to potential noise from the electrical transformers and the grade of the agricultural land.

'We will also look again at the proposed traffic route to the site,' he said. 'In relation to queries regarding health issues from these type of sites, we are not aware of any such risks and would point out that this is a well established technology used across the world. However, we will carry out a review of all related health papers and provide this to the town council.

The consultation event will be from from 5pm to 8pm at Callington Town Hall and Mr Murphy added: 'We would welcome the chance to discuss our plans for the site and the community benefits with people from around the Callington area.'