PLANS for a 304-acre solar farm on land spanning the Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen border have been thrown into doubt following local anger, leading to a petition against the move.

Campaigners say it will have a negative visual impact on the landscape and will take away useable agricultural land from food production.

The First Minister, Eluned Morgan, responded to concerns about the plans this week, with the Senedd set to rule on the Pegasus Group planning application.

When asked by South east Wales MS Laura Anne Jones, who lives in Monmouth, to visit the site to hear local residents’ concerns, the First Minster said that if it was on prime agricultural land, campaigners would have good grounds for appeal against any decision in favour of the project.

Ms Jones, who opposes the plans for the solar farm, said they risked future food security and residents were “angry, worried and frustrated” about the project and lack of consultation.

The map appears to show that some of the land included in the proposal is graded as the “best and most versatile” agricultural land.

According to the Welsh Government, only “10 to 15 percent of the land in Wales” is graded this highly.

“Planning applications and local development plans should include survey evidence when they cover grade 1, 2 or 3a land.”

This would also appear to mean that a decision in favour of the project could be appealed.

The MS said: “It’s clear from the Welsh Government’s maps that much of the land earmarked for the solar farm around the Ponthir site is usable agricultural land.

“It’s been horrible for residents to have to have this proposal dropped on them, but now it seems there is hope that the story isn’t over and perhaps can be stopped.”