WALKERS on the historic St Swithun's Way footpath have complained about the blight on the landscape caused by a new solar farm on the outskirts of Farnham.

Construction workers have begun installing the controversial 21,000-panel solar farm on a 25-acre field in Cheeks Farm Lane, Dippenhall, after planning permission was granted on appeal.

And the farm, which local residents have long claimed will be an eye sore and increase the flood risk on the A31 between Farnham and Alton, is already turning heads.

A condition of the farm's planning permission was to install screening from the adjacent St Swithun's Way, which follows a section of the ancient Pilgrims Way footpath from Winchester to Canterbury.

However, campaigners say the screening planted by Constantine Energy Ltd will take 10 years or more to mature and walkers have also criticised the materials being used on site.

For full story, see this week's Farnham Herald.