A MASSIVE solar farm could be built on the edge of Coleford to help spark the town back to life.

Plans are in the pipeline to put 30,000 panels on fields at Pingry Farm, owned by entrepreneur farmer Lewis Williams, which would generate

enough green electricity for 1,300 homes.

Coleford Energy claims companies like GSK cannot expand without expensive upgrades because of restrictions on the local electricity grid.

They say boosting Coleford's electricity supply with a solar farm could help companies like GlaxoSmithKline grow and create more jobs.

But GSK says the company is not involved in the project at the moment and the proposal could prove controversial because it is near Puzzlewood and the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

See this week's Forester for full story