AN ELECTRICITY substation that objectors fear will spoil the area around the tomb of Florence Nightingale has been given the go ahead this week.

An application was submitted to Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) to create a new electricity substation at Woodington Solar Farm in East Wellow.

The plans were given the green light at TVBC's Southern Area Planning Committee (SAPC) yesterday (May 18), meaning a substation, ground mounted solar panels, and security equipment, including fencing and CCTV, should be installed on land that is currently used for agricultural purposes.

Applicants behind the project, Woodington Solar Limited, said the substation, which was already connected to the solar farm plans granted permission back in 2017, was essential in exporting the electricity generated by the solar scheme to the national grid.

Although the application was approved by the planning committee on April 27, TVBC explained after the meeting officers were reviewing the the draft minutes and spotted "typographical errors" in the update paper.

TVBC stressed the errors "may have inadvertently had cause to confuse what the formal decision of the committee was", adding it would "seek a new resolution from SAPC before any decision by the Local Planning Authority is issued".

This comes after Wellow Parish Councillor Mike Jones reminded TVBC the parish authority had objected to the plans at every opportunity.

He said the scheme “does not keep with the rural setting”.

Cllr Jones also highlighted noise and the impact on local housing as parish concerns.

Speaking about the neighbouring church and its grounds, Cllr Jones said: “St Margaret’s Church is a historic and highly valued heritage site containing the tomb of Florence Nightingale, and the village burial ground plays host to weddings and funerals.

“Florence Nightingale is an iconic figure in this country, especially now, and as a parish we must meet our obligations to protect this important site.”