DESPITE it being close to a 19th Century listed building, a proposal for a 19,782 panelled solar farm on land east of Lydney Park has been given the go ahead.

Last week Forest of Dean planners' approved the scheme by nine votes to six at which Coun Norman Stephens (Ind, Newhmam & Westbury) said: "In recent times this council has objected to wind turbines and nuclear energy and has debated several much more contentious solar farm applications than this one.

"I feel that solar energy is the way forward as it provides clean green energy."

For the full story, read The Forester.