A VILLAGE near Highbridge has been given a £10,000 boost from a solar park developer which is building a 60-acre project.

Hadstone Energy already received planning permission in August for its 10 megawatt Solar Farm at Watchfield Lawn Farm and Elm Tree Farm but wanted to make a donation to Watchfield village.

The money will help to pay for the re-cladding, insulating and repainting of Watchfield Village Hall.

James Rowe, director of Hadstone Energy, said: “The village hall is celebrating its 80th birthday this year. Although the hall only cost £189 to build in 1933, it now needs re-cladding and repainting and it seems that £189 doesn't go as far as it used to.

“As well as owning half of the land that the Solar Park is sited on, Keith Whitting is now chair of the village hall committee.

“Keith's grandfather was one of the original committee who raised funds to build the village hall, so it's fitting that 80 years later we should be presenting somewhat more than £189 towards the refurbishment project.”

The cash was not required as a planning condition but Hadstone recognised that during the project’s construction there will be some temporary extra road traffic and noise.

Keith Whitting added: “We are grateful to Hadstone. This has a positive effect on everyone, as the village hall is owned by everyone in Watchfield.”

During the project’s 25-year operating period, John Reason will continue to graze his sheep on the entire site, meaning the land used for the Solar Park will remain in continuous agricultural use.

Philip Deeks, another director of Hadstone, said: “This is not industrialisation of the countryside. It is about putting money into the countryside and local communities, while also securing the UK's future energy supply."

The project, expected to be complete in February 2014, will generate enough electricity to power 2,400 homes for a year - more than what is used by the entire local community.

A separate project by Wessex Solar Energy for a 33,000-panel solar farm between Woolavington and East Huntspill was approved by Sedgemoor planners last month. It should be completed early next year.