Residents of Llangybi Fawr were left feeling ignored and dismissed after their Member of Parliament, Catherine Fookes MP apparently declined to meet with them to discuss their serious concerns over the proposed 304-acre solar factory at Bluestone Court Farm

Despite a request for a site visit to see the sheer scale of the potential development, they claimed the only response from Ms. Fookes’ office was an offer of a single appointment at her advice surgery in Monmouth, a location and timeframe impractical for a group consultation on a development of this magnitude.

But when the Beacon contacted her office, a spokesman issued a statement saying that “at no point has Catherine refused to meet with members of the community group”.

He added that in response to an email from a constituent highlighting the urgency of a meeting to discuss concerns regarding the development, “we offered an appointment at Catherine’s constituency surgery this Friday for an initial discussion. We also made clear that, due to Catherine’s parliamentary and constituency commitments, her diary is very busy until September.

“We additionally offered to send their concerns directly to the developer.”

Her office explained that they had received a response that morning from the constituent saying they were unavailable.

“We will now look at arranging an alternative meeting at a time that works for everyone, as soon as we possibly can.

“Catherine fully recognises the concerns regarding this proposed development. She has looked at the plans, appreciates that many residents feel strongly about its potential impact, and is happy to discuss the issue with any concerned residents.”

County Councillor Fay Bromfield, who represents the Llangybi Fawr ward, said ““Thanks to residents’ pressure I am pleased that Catherine has agreed to meet with my residents”

She went on to say that the proposed development will impact the local landscape, environment and the daily lives of many people across southern Monmouthshire. “The final decision could potentially be made by our MP’s colleagues, UK Government ministers, so it’s really important that Catherine Fookes sees for herself the destruction this industrialised development would inflict on rural Monmouthshire. Peter Fox, Laura Jones and Natasha Asghar have all taken the time to visit the site.”

The solar proposal at Bluestone Court Farm 1 has generated growing concern among local residents, who have questions around construction traffic, infrastructure, environmental impact, transparency, and community consultation.

Local residents are calling for proper representation, accessible dialogue, and a commitment to listening — not just during elections, but when it matters most.

Cllr Bromfield and Member of the Senedd Laura Anne Jones have strongly criticised the project team behind the proposed Blue Court Solar Factory following a meeting with Llangybi Community Council, held on June 23, 2025, at Lllangybi Village Hall.

Representatives from TotalEnergies, Pegasus Group Ltd and Grasshoppers Communication attended the meeting to introduce early plans for the large-scale development, which would span approximately 304 acres, the majority of which falls within Monmouthshire and the Llangybi Fawr ward.