CONTROVERSIAL plans to install thousands of solar panels in West Berkshire have been thrown out by the council.

West Berkshire Council's planning committee rejected Mulbrick Clean Energy LLP's application to put up 17,820 solar panels on land to the north and south of Stud Farm, Sulhamstead Abbots.

Community campaigners and the nearby parish council have fought the plans since the application was launched, and were relieved to see the proposals rejected despite council officers earmarking them for approval.

John Honeysett, of Burghfield Common, said: "We are very pleased. The local residents have put up various objections as to the location of this application, being in a rural area.

"Although we are not against alternative power solutions, in an area of really nice countryside we did not deem the application to be suitable."

Mr Honeysett admitted that neighbours were worried when officers recommended the plans to be approved, fearing their hard work was going to be ignored.

He added that a different solution would be to put panels on top of warehouses rather than the countryside.

Sulhamstead Parish Council also slammed the application, raising concerns over increased congestion and the accuracy of the application.

A report prepared for councillors read: "Concerns over the increased level of construction traffic that will access both the area and the site, given the rural location, via country lanes, many of them single track.

"There are also concerns about HGV and emergency vehicle access to the site itself, again details of which are missing from the application.

"At a recent public meeting, the developers and the landowner were unable to answer any of the queries with regard to the application with any degree of confidence or apparent detailed knowledge, and this caused further concern."

The application was rejected at an Eastern Area Planning Committee meeting at the council's offices yesterday [March 23].

A spokesman for West Berkshire Council added: "The planning application was refused contrary to officers' recommendations because of the negative impact of the development of the ameneity of the area and the neighbouring properties."