A TEST Valley farmer could soon be tapping into the sun to power industrial units at Broughton.

Anthony Jepson-Turner ,who farms at Broughton and Nether Wallop, is behind the scheme at Broughton Down Farm.

Mr Jepson-Turner intends to install 260 solar panels on the roof of a former farm dairy on land south of the A30 and west of the B3084 at Broughton.

His agent, Philip Denee, of Braden chartered surveyors, said: “The proposal provides 332 square metres of PV photovoltaic panels, providing a nominal 49.4kw generating capacity and the plans will make better use of the south-facing roof of the building. Some of the power generated will go towards running the industrial units and the remaining will go into the National Grid.”

He added that the black solar panels would cover about 12 per cent of the building’s roof and their installation would help Britain’s reliance on ever-diminishing fossils fuel supplies.

“It provides a renewable energy source that meets Government objectives and it is in line with both national and local planning policy,” concluded Mr Denee. Both Broughton Parish Council and the Ramblers’ Association have raised no objection to the plans.

Mr Jepson-Turner has also lodged another scheme to install photovoltaic panels on a building at Nine Mile Water, in Nether Wallop, with borough planners.

Ower farmer and agricultural contractor, Jack Parsons, is also planning to install solar panels on a grain silo at his farm,, but he doesn’t approve of the structures being built in fields.

Mr Parsons said: “Solar panels are a marvellous idea and I see nothing wrong with them going on grain stores and farm dairies across England, but I don’t believe in them going up on farmland.

“In 25 years time, they could come up with something better for renewable energy. Putting solar panels on land in the countryside or on hills is ridiculous and is not going to feed the world.”