FURIOUS residents who battled to protect a historic village from being ‘ruined’ by a giant solar farm have blasted conservation officers for not doing enough to save it from development.

Felkirk, which is nestled between Shafton and Royston, was the subject of a planning application submitted last April.

The sprawling site, which skirts 950-year-old St Peter’s Church’s grounds and is overlooked by Rabbit Ings Country Park, will be developed despite it being in the green belt.

St Peter’s is believed to be the first stone church to have been commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Harrying of the North in around 1070.

According to the plan - which was approved last week - the solar farm will be in situ for 40 years, despite a petition and considerable opposition being lodged by councillors and MPs from both Barnsley and Wakefield.

Because of the village’s ‘unique significance’ - due to the Grade I-listed church and neighbouring historic buildings - residents are now campaigning to secure Felkirk as a conservation area to protect it from future planning bids and have launched a website.

They will be discussing their next steps at a meeting tomorrow at the church’s schoolroom from 10am alongside council officers.

Paul Archer, from Felkirk Heritage Group, told the Chronicle: “We’re in disbelief because it’s clearly the wrong area for such a thing as a solar farm - it just doesn’t fit in with the village’s identity.

“We’ve had assurances that it will become a conservation area but to then approve a solar farm goes against that so we’re hopeful that more answers will be given at tomorrow’s meeting.

“The history of Felkirk is factual although some remains are undiscovered.

“Therefore there is much to be done by those of us who are interested to preserve and protect this area and to ensure it is appreciated by a wider public and future generations.”

According to documents, the 96-acre solar farm could be seen from as far away as Brierley - two miles away - given its size.

Nearby sites were also looked at by the co-applicants, including the former Monckton coking plant, but it was ruled out due to it being deemed too small.

Three neighbouring parcels of land were then identified, with access set to come via Lund Hill Lane, Royston.

Trisha Farr, also from the group, said: “There’s a resident nearby whose home will be 20 yards away from the solar farm.

“We’ve started doing heritage-themed walks around Felkirk and one of the routes actually takes in the field where it will be.

“It’s such a unique place as there are so many listed buildings and monuments, yet it seems like not many people know about it.

“We’re working very closely with the council as this area deserves to be protected.”

MP John Trickett added: “I am in principle against building on green belt land.

“Whilst I believe green initiatives should be encouraged in order to tackle the climate crisis, I do not believe this should be done by eating into land that is designated as green belt.

“I have previously spoken out on behalf of constituents regarding building on green belt land and I know people in my area feel passionately about protecting the natural environment.

“There are two scheduled monuments in the vicinity of the site, including the deserted medieval village of Hodroyd and Felkirk which is noted as one of the few earthwork sites of its type to survive within the area.

“This area is of national importance and I urged the council to consider this following the strong concerns which were raised with me.”