Controversy surrounds plans to install 320 solar panels on one of Bath’s most cherished scenic areas, the Bath Skyline Walk at Widcombe Hill near Rainbow Wood. The application, submitted by Dr. Alyson Warhurst of Rainbow Wood House, is set for council review next week but has already sparked significant public backlash.
Despite the applicant’s claim that the site is hidden from public roads, footpaths, and bridleways, many local residents argue the development would damage the panoramic views that define the city’s landscape. Critics warn the project threatens Bath’s esteemed status as a World Heritage Site by altering its treasured green setting.
The proposal has drawn 244 public comments, including 186 objections and 59 expressions of support. Opponents cite the project’s excessive scale and its conversion of protected grassland—designated as a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI)—into gravel-covered solar arrays. One resident stated, “The array far exceeds what is needed for domestic power, contradicting government guidelines, and feels driven more by profit than sustainability.”
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Concerns extend beyond the environment to the emotional and cultural value of the site. “The Bath Skyline is central to our community’s mental wellbeing, a place of solace for many,” shared a local commenter. Another emphasized, “Industrializing this vista undermines the very aesthetic and natural beauty that attracts global visitors and defines Bath’s unique identity.”
Supporters argue the solar panels will minimally impact views and provide vital contributions to renewable energy efforts in the face of climate change. One Bath native commented, “This project will remove 30 tons of carbon annually, outperforming tree planting, while remaining discreet and respectful of neighbors and public use.”
Public comments for the application have now closed. Bath and North East Somerset Council aims to reach a decision by Monday.