For those not following the Parish Council minutes, a few years ago, Elgin Energy began a process of applying for permission to build a large Solar Park at Pipplepen Farm. During the consultation phase, North Perrott Parish Council (NPPC) pushed for environmental improvements to the plan and in the first instance, Councillors were split in their support and declined the plan on the grounds of size and archaeological investigations, that had not then been completed. Almost two years later, permision has now been granted and Elgin Energy have sold the rights to construction and management to Scottish Power Renewables (SPR). SPR specialise in renewable energy and own many hydro-electric and wind farms. Pipplepen will be among the first of their solar installations and the first environmentally managed site. SPR sent a team to the last NPPC meeting and attached is the first of their periodic newsletters, to keep the community updated about their plans and progress.

Scottish Power are keen to emphasise that while there maybe a few tweeks to the plan, they have undertaken to honour everything that Elgin had agreed, including the community fund. Despite what the newsletter says, the community fund was agreed between Elgin Energy and Somerset District Council. Neither NPPC or South Perrott were consulted other than to agree that the fund would be split equally between the two villages. The value of the fund is calculated on the output of the site and is estimated to be about £128k in total. This fund, of which North Perrott will be entitled to half, will be released when power is finally switched on and energy is being supplied to the National Grid.

According to the plan in the newsletter, this is some time in the future and the NPPC will be organising one to two village consultations about how the money can be invested in our community. Ideas can be sent into the NPPC at any time. At this point it can only be explained that we will not be given the money, there will be a community fund that projects can apply for funding from via the NPPC. The funds can be used for a single large project, lots of small ones or a combination. They must be community based and jointly agreed between NPPC and the Community Liason team from SPR and any co-signatories of the original agreement. Presumably, as South Somerset District Council no longer exist, this part will be managed by Somerset Council.

Bellow