TWO wings of the green movement are at loggerheads over a proposed solar farm near Alresford.

There have been more than 500 objections from country lovers angry at the plans for a solar farm at Godsfield north of Old Alresford.

But the green group Winchester Action on Climate Change is urging its supporters to express strong support for the application. By Monday more than 110 people had expressed their support for the application.

In a post on Instagram WinACC said: “Too many people are opposing the planning application for the new #SolarFarm in the parish of #Alresford. We need this to succeed. We are only going to need more electricity as we swap to electric cars and electricity to heat our homes.

“We don’t produce our fair share of renewable energy where we live, we rely on others to change their landscape for us. There are no brownfield sites that are suitable and available.

“The area is secluded....We can’t wait, we need this NOW!”

It is the remoteness of the area that is one of the main reasons why people are objecting.

In an email to members, Win ACC states: “Once complete it will provide enough renewable energy equating to more than 1 per cent of our district’s total electricity consumption at this present time.

“As we move away from fossil fuels for transport or heating, our reliance on electricity will go up. We want to make sure than any increases in electricity use are from renewable sources.”

Win ACC said the solar farm will see an increase in biodiversity as the developer proposes a wide strip between the solar panels and the Three Castles Path. Most of the area is currently intensively farmed arable land.

Dave Ramm, Open Spaces Society, Local Correspondent for Hampshire, told the Chronicle: “Of all the places on the whole 60 miles from Windsor to Winchester, do we really have to despoil the best place to stop for rest and refreshment and to enjoy this open view across the chalk downland on the Three Castles Path - or on a Sunday afternoon stroll for that matter? Surely not.

“As the person most responsible for the establishment of this route 30 years ago I can with all honesty say it’s by far the most expansive view. It might not be the highest point, that’s reserved for Ally Lane; a sunken tree-lined track heading down into Ellisfield where rather surprisingly the highest point on our journey to Winchester is reached; villagers may describe this as ‘heaven on earth’ but there’s no big view just here all the same. We also reach two other high points: Five Lanes End, an isolated meeting point of ancient tracks and atop Itchen Stoke Down - but again, views are limited. The starting point for a developer of a solar farm seems to be an obvious and easy connection to the national grid. Not that it’s obvious to the average walker or rider but if they can pull their gaze way from the fine view beyond, they may spot some wooden-poles in the field. They’re the culprit. They carry electricity (not telephone) wire wires and for the developer - and the landowner if he agrees, it’s as good as money in the bank.”

The application will likely go to planning committee at a date to be fixed.