A proposal to put solar panels on all new homes built in Rutland was withdrawn after a long debate. 

Cllr Kiloran Heckels (Con) asked Rutland County Council to insist all housebuilders, industrialists and farmers with agricultural buildings install solar panels on new buildings. 

She also proposed that the Liberal Democrat-led authority dictate any new solar farm applications come with a 'competitive community compensation' that exceeds Government standards. 

Solar farms are a hot and sometimes sore topic in Rutland. Last year the Government approved the large-scale Mallard Pass solar farm, straddling the Rutland and Linconshire border, and another large solar farm has been proposed northwest of Great Casterton. 

Cllr Heckels, at a full council meeting in Oakham on Thursday 18 September, said his proposal was not to reject solar energy but 'put it in the right places'. 

He said: "Rutland has shown leadership before in acknowledging climate change action is needed, and we must continue to do so. 

"But climate action must work with, not against the countryside and our precious farmland that contains provide high-quality crops and livestock.  

"Turning productive farmland into large solar farms will have a knock-on effect and damage the economic base. Once high-grade soil is covered in panels it cannot grow crops or graze livestock for decades." 

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She said the proposed Woolfox development would be an opportunity to put a solar panel on 'every roof'. 

Her proposal was backed by fellow Conservatives Cllr Karen Payne and Coun Giles Clifton but faced some push back from councillors of different party colours. 

Cllr Paul Browne (Lib Dem), who is the cabinet member for planning, said he had no concern with the messages in the motion, but did with the way it was written. 

Cllr Ramsay Ross (Lab) said he would not support the proposal but would support an amended motion if it would include the council's leader Gale Waller (Lib Dem) agreement to write to the Government asking it to fulfil its manifesto to increase the payment for communities adjacent to windfarms. 

Cllr Waller said everyone has concerns about the growing number of solar farms in Rutland because they provide no direct benefit to local communities. She said she supported the sentiment in the motion but felt it was not clear enough. 

Cllr Oliver Hemsley (Ind) said he did not think the authority should be telling farmers what they could or couldn't do, with regard to growing crops or solar panels.  

Cabinet member Christine Wise (Lib Dem) praised Cllr Heckels for encouraging debate and offered to work with her on her aims. 

Cllr Heckels, who said she had worked for six months on the proposal and had to dilute it for national planning policy reasons, said she would withdraw it and arrange a cross-party working group to try to move things forward. 

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