SOUTH Hams landowners are set to receive almost £6.5m for allowing solar farms on their land.In response to a Freedom of Information Act request, South Hams Council said that 101.17 hectares – 250 acres – of solar farms has been approved or were in the planning stages between October 1, 2010, and October 1, 2013. Solar farm companies pay up to £1,000 per acre per year in land rental, meaning farmers could recieve income of around £250,000 every year.And multiplied by the average 25-year life-time of a solar farm, that figure jumps to £6.25m.However, the Campaign to Protect Rural England said it was 'extremely concerned' by the numbers.South Hams member Bob Harvey said: 'First, however important electricity is, food is more important. 'We will increasingly be facing accelerating pressures to grow our own food in Britain as it will become much more expensive to buy it in. 'Agricultural land is therefore of prime importance and solar farms do, despite claims otherwise, reduce farm food productivity.'Second, it is significant that most working farmers agree. 'A special meeting of farmers to advise the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty showed virtually no interest in solar or wind farms, but pleaded for more support for farmers who want to reduce their electricity bills by installing solar panels on barn roofs and small turbines in the farmyard – wholeheartedly supported by CPRE.'

The meeting scheduled to be held at Follaton House, Totnes, next Friday, has now been cancelled.More on this story in this week's Chronicle