FUNDING of £350,000 has been granted by Monmouthshire councillors for a 5MW solar farm near Caldicot.

Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) met last Thursday (30th July) to secure financial approval for the solar farm situated on 25 acres at authority owned land at Oak Grove Farm, Crick.

According to a council report the project will be funded by prudential borrowing and added to MCC’s capital programme.

The farm will provide approximately 4,000 homes with electricity and will save 2,395 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year.

It is estimated that an average net income of between £60,000 and £177,000 will be made per annum.

The proposal was heavily criticised by County Councillor Graham Down. He said: “How is this funded? By an extra charge on electricity for householders. According to the government it’s an extra £141 per household per year, that’s £5 per week. For the wealthy £5 a week may be fine but for the poorest in society, in particular the elderly poor, it is particularly high.

“So when we hear stories, that we undoubtedly will, of people choosing to heat or eat, remember they’re paying to provide profit to us.”

Councillor Bob Hayward described the plans as “immoral”. He said: “We are not in the business to make money. I think it’s immoral we’re trying to make money in any way possible, never mind the risk. I think it’s morally unjust.

“We’re here to provide services, not to make money off people who are paying taxes.”

Deputy leader Councillor Bob Greenland said in the face of cuts to public funding, it was essential the council makes money to protect frontline services. He said: “This scheme we believe is good to take forward. It will provide us with a considerable income.

“Already in our budgets we have included income for a scheme like this. If we don’t go forward on this we’ll have a deficit that will impact on frontline services.”

The proposal needs to go before MCC’s planning committee in September before it’s approved.