Residents have a sunny outlook on plans for a 22,000-panel solar farm.

Martin Smith, of Wick Road, Burnham, has submitted an application for the solar farm, which would generate enough energy to power 1,650 homes on an annual basis, to Maldon District Council.

The site, on agricultural land east of Burnham Wick Farm, would consist of 22,000 panels of about 1.65m by 1m.

Residents of Wick Road have expressed their support for the new application, which is some distance from last year’s proposed site.

Brian Fieldhouse, 70, of Wick Road, said: “It’s not going to affect anybody as far as I can see, the only people who will see it will be dog walkers and people who use the footpaths," while Sandy Hague, also of Wick Road, said: “For most people it’s the view and the noise that they object to, I don’t think it will affect people if you can’t see or hear it.”

For the full story see today's Burnham Standard.