Solar Farm Near Pillaton - 9th March 2015

Sent: 09 March 2015 11:34

Dear Sirs / Madam,

I am a parishioner of Pillaton, Saltash, Cornwall.

There are currently solar panel farm works being carried out on the border between St Mellion Parish and Pillaton Parish, in the main adjacent to the road which runs between Amy Tree and Clapper Bridge. As this is an un-named road, approx. grid references are 50°28'19.2"N 4°18'51.6"W [50.472012, -4.314347], the nearest postcode I can find by way of Google is PL17 7HT for a farm on that road.

Over the last month the works have caused frustration and concern to a number of people, in the main due to road disruption and the state of the road surface.

Please find attached two photos taken at 09:50 am. this morning which show a depiction of the state of the road for some 500 metres or more. The machine in the picture had the road blocked for about 3 minutes, [though I did arrive when the trailer was almost full]. The road currently looks more like a farm track than a Cornwall Council maintained highway.

The current state of the road does not allow the general public to walk along this road safely, underfoot conditions are very slippery, public walking this route will get very dirty. The road is also used by a number of cyclists, with the volume of mud on the road mixed with the current wet weather conditions there must be a high risk of accident looming.

Cornwall Council need to step in and resolve this issue as there is a real threat to public health and safety. I will also be phoning the Highways Emergencies hotline as I believe this is a hazardous defect.

My mobile number is below if you wish to make contact with myself to discuss the above.

I have also copied this email to the Clerk to the Parish Council of Pillaton.

Regards,

Gary Martin
Claymore Construction Services Limited

Sent: 10 March 2015 10:05

Dear Gary

Near Pillaton, Saltash, Cornwall

Thank you for your email.

I can confirm that I am aware of the situation and Planning Enforcement action is underway to address the problems at this location.

Yours sincerely

Adrian Drake

Highway Manager
CORMAC Solutions Ltd

Tel: 0300 1234 222

CORMAC Head Office
Castle Canyke Road
Bodmin
www.cornwall.gov.uk

Sent: 10 March 2015 15:55

Dear Mr Martin

Thank you for your email. I can confirm that the Planning enforcement team have been in contact with the developers of the site in Germany, who are presently here in England reviewing the situation and putting in place remedial plans to ensure that the present situation does not continue.

The site and the roads are being monitored by both myself and highways and any new or continuing issues are fed back to the developers immediately.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need an update.

Yours sincerely

Sarah Page
Mrs S J Page
Development Officer (Enforcement)
Planning & Regeneration
Cornwall Council
Bodmin OSS,
3-5 Barn Lane
Bodmin
PL31 1LZ
www.cornwall.gov.uk

Sent: 10 March 2015 17:39

Sarah-Jane,

Many thanks for your e mail, the update is much appreciated. I have every confidence that the departments of Planning & Regeneration and Highways & Environment East of Cornwall Council will take this up and ensure the developers adhere to maintaining the highways in a clean and safe manner.

I took the opportunity to drive the route at 4.00 pm. tonight, with the region enjoying a dry day for a change the road isn’t as slippery, however I can’t readily see any improvement to the volume of mud on the highway.

There is a growing feeling within both Pillaton Parish and St Mellion Parish that the developers are not being taken to task. Recent Facebook comments that I have seen are steering to a negative approach to the Parish Council’s. Being a Parish Councillor for Pillaton myself these comments only frustrate and exasperate the situation we find ourselves in.

Look forward to any regular updates Cornwall Council are able to provide.

Regards

Gary Martin
Claymore Construction Services Limited