A MEETING to discuss controversial plans for a solar farm in open countryside on the outskirts of Tolland, near Lydeard St Lawrence, is taking place next week.

Juwi Renewable Energies has applied to Taunton Deane Council for planning permission to build a 3.47MW farm on agricultural land at Grove Farm.

If approved, around 14,000 panels would be installed in two fields within the 8.32 hectares site for up to 25 years.

The site, which bounds a section of the West Deane Way footpath, would be surrounded by two metre-high deer fencing and include a substation and 26 CCTV cameras mounted on two metre-high poles.

Lydeard St Lawrence and Tolland Parish Council has called the meeting in Lydeard St Lawrence Village Hall at 7.30pm on Monday to give councillors and residents the chance to air their views.