PLANNERS meeting on Monday will decide on whether to give the go-ahead to solar farm plans near Liskeard.

The proposed 250kW solar array at Trethawle, Horningtops, would be at the same location as a 67-metre wind turbine which was installed in 2012.

The 1,000 panels would supply enough energy for 130 houses, and would be designed to have a life of 25 years, after which time they could be dismantled, said applicant Cleanearth Energy. Menheniot Parish Council has objected to the proposed scheme. The council says that the site lies within an Area of Great Landscape Value and that it would represent further industrialisation of the landscape.

Network Rail has raised concerns about the potential for glare from the array to cause distraction to train drivers – or to obscure signals. While the organisation says it has no objections in principle to the scheme, it would like to see monitoring put in place for the first 12 months.