Fillongley Parish Council

28^th January 2025

Dear Resident

Thank you if you responded to any of the surveys that the Parish Council have circulated regarding revisions to the Fillongley Neighbourhood Plan and also Housing Needs.  It has provided valuable information for our Neighbourhood Plan revision.

Once again we are asking for your opinion.

The Revised Fillongley Neighbourhood Plan is ready for your views.  In particular, regarding the proposed policies, but if you have any comments or questions on the policies or process, positive or negative, we would love to hear them.

As part of the legal update process FPC have a 6 week consultation period from Monday 3^rd February until Sunday 16^th March 2025 (inclusive).  You are welcome to respond in writing; either letter or email to the address above, or by completing the online survey on the Parish website www.fillongleyparishcouncil.co.uk/survey.  Please do include your name (which will not be used other than to ensure that people only respond once each).

On the website there are;

• The original Fillongley Neighbourhood Plan (which is the current legal document)
• The “amended” document which shows what is removed (by striking through the text) and what is proposed to be added (which is in red).
• The proposed new document, if, following the consultation, there are no amendments to be made.
• The evidence base which contains all the documents used to formulate the plan.
• The survey to collect responses.

If you cannot access the information on-line please contact the Clerk (details above) and we  can print and bring hard copy to you so that you can see what is proposed.  If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to contact the Clerk.

Yours sincerely

Mr Robert Pargetter

Chairman, Fillongley Parish Council

Ref; PAP/2023/0071 Land 800m South of Park House Farm, Meriden Road.  Construction of a temporary Solar Farm providing 47.7MW output, to include the installation of ground-mounted solar panels together with associated works, equipment and necessary infrastructure.

This is the application for a solar farm on “Best and Most Versatile“ (BMV) land in the green belt of our Parish.  The field and the wheat grown in it is visible from Meriden Road, Coventry Road, Green End Road, Sandy Lane and Far Parks, as well as the public footpaths that run through the fields.  This is visible with wheat at approximately 65 cm high.  The proposal is for solar panels which are approximately                         high.

The Parish Council, with the support of almost all residents objected to the application and it was rejected by NWBC.  The applicant has now appealed that decision through the Planning Inspectorate. This Appeal is due to be heard at The Council House, Atherston on 10th and 11th December 2024.

NWBC will be fighting against the appeal and have asked FPC for support.  At a recent meeting attended by a number of Parishioners, there was overwhelming support for continuing to fight the application and the PC have launched a JustGiving page if you are able to support financially Fundraiser by Fillongley Parish Council : Support the Appeal AGAINST this Solar Farm on Greenbelt Land (gofundme.com)

If you are unable to financially support us, we would be grateful if you are able to write/email in support so that we can show the Inspector that Neighbourhood Plans shouldn’t be ignored.   You are also welcome to support by coming to the Appeal at the Council House in Atherstone on 10th and 11th December.

To put it in perspective…… this is the size of the proposed development in proportion to the centre of the village.

It is on almost 150 acres of best and most versatile farmed arable land, in the Green Belt, highly visible from numerous properties, locations and roads in the Parish and contrary to a number of policies in our Fillongley Neighbourhood Plan

NWBC believe that this is a strong case.  Whilst the new Government have had a change in Policy to the old government, this is still a huge, highly visible site, on the best arable land and contrary to our Local Neighbourhood Plan.  The concern is, that if we lose this, the flood gates will be opened to developers looking to put more of these sites on our farmland in the green belt.   Whilst FPC appreciate the need for energy security, FPC do not believe it should be at the cost of our food security or to the detriment of our Green Belt or the historic setting of our Church.

If you wish to discuss this further please do not hesitate to contact the Clerk.  Thank you for your time, consideration and support.

Fillongley Parish Council are delighted at the success of the award winning Fillongley Knit and Natter Group.  The group have already yarn bombed the village in celebration of the Queens Platinum Jubilee, Remembrance Sunday, the Kings Coronation, Easter, Christmas and the 80^th Anniversary of D Day.  The knitting has lifted the spirits of those who live in our community and those who pass through.  Thanks to Celia Parker and the whole team.  We shall watch with interest to see their next creations……

In 2013 the Parish Council decided to form a Neighbourhood Plan.  This is part of the Localism Act that has aimed to devolve power back to local communities.  Since then, Fillongley residents and Fillongley Parish Council have been working on a Neighbourhood Plan.  This is a vision of how we would like our village to develop between now and 2034 which runs in parallel with North Warwickshire Borough Councils‘ future planning.   It was voted for in a referendum and was adopted by NWBC as part of the local plan in August 2019.

Thank you to all who contributed to its success.

This document can be viewed by clicking the icon above.  If you would like to view a paper copy please contact the Clerk to arrange this.

Contact the Clerk here.