County council consideration of huge investment in a solar farm “beggars belief”
08/07/2026
The discussion will take place behind closed doors
A council which could cease to exist in the next couple of years is considering borrowing huge sums of cash to fund the purchase of a solar farm, leading to a debt which would need to be paid off for years to come.
Oxfordshire County Council’s is being asked to approve moving project investigations into the “due diligence” stage next week. Discussions will take place behind closed doors and the location of the solar farm isn’t being disclosed, although its understood to be within the county.
The future of the council is currently in question with the government considering what model of single authority council will replace both Oxfordshire County and Cherwell District councils.
The County Council believes purchasing a solar farm would reduce its carbon footprint and provide a financial return for the taxpayer. The authority also asserts the move would help meet their own energy needs, although they concede the power generated would be fed directly into the national grid.
The cost of the project is not being made public but the Liberal Democrat led council says it would be financed through borrowing. Income generated during the lifetime of the operation of the farm would cover the costs and provide additional revenue for services.
Councillor Dan Levy, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Transformation said: “This scheme would involve an up-front cost but it would be covered by the amount of money it would generate for the council while at the same time making a material contribution to our own future carbon management.
“This combination of support for the council’s climate objectives and the prospect of long-term financial returns is why we want to look further in to progressing the potential scheme. There would be future opportunities for the council and the taxpayer to avoid costs.”
But Banbury Conservative County Councillor Keiron Mallon is astounded by the plans. He told Banbury FM: “With this proposal – which will blight a huge swathe of Oxfordshire farmland with solar panels (probably from China, made under labour conditions we know nothing about) – when food security in the UK is at its lowest, by a council which will not even be in existence in a few years’ time, but is willing to put whatever council replaces it into (and with) multi-million pounds of debt for generations. It beggars belief.”
Around our area plans for solar farms near both Duns Tew and Hanwell have been causing concerns for local residents, although there is nothing to indicate either of these sites are being considered for the county council’s plan.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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