Countryside around Tideford could become a hot spot for solar power generation at the expense of the local landscape, campaigners are warning.

The organisation Save Landscape in Cornwall (SLIC) pointed out that seven planning applications for Photo-voltaic Arrays, or solar farms, have been submitted to Cornwall Council in the immediate area around Tideford while a total of 20 proposals are in the pipeline within a few miles of the village.

SLIC spokesman Nigel May from Tideford said: 'The fact that many of them are within Areas of Great Landscape Value (AGLV) doesn't seem to count for much with the planners who designated them before solar farms came along.'

He fears that with profits of between £500,000 and £750,000 a year to be made from a 5 megawatt solar farm and the recent relaxation of rules which now permit arrays of up to 10mw, Cornwall and its landscsape could witness a 'gold rush' by companies seeking to cash in.

His comments came as it was confirmed that a Chinese company is negotiating the purchase of two unidentified solar farms within the county.

Of current concern to SLIC is the application by Bristol-based Elgin Energy EsCo Ltd for a

5 megawatt solar farm at Lanthrone Farm, one of the biggest in Cornwall yet, located on 58 acres of farmland bisected by Tideford Cross Lane within the local AGLV.

St Germans and Tideford Parish Council recently voted to oppose the application saying there is large-scale local opposition to such a development on grade 2 agricultural land.

Councillors consider it will have a detrimental visual effect on the River Tiddy and River Lynher Area of Great Landscape Value.

Mr May said people are probably not aware of the large number of applications for solar farms in Cornwall.

He suggested visiting Cornwall Council website http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=25182">http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=25182 where maps showing all current applications for solar and wind power schemes can be found.

'There are over 300 solar schemes proposed for Cornwall,' said Mr May, 'which could take up between 10-12,000 acres of land, with few applicants being required to produce Visual Impact Assessments.

'There seems to be no overall policy and applications seem to be going through more or less on the nod – the system doesn't seem to be working effectively.'