A giant solar farm proposed for rural Perthshire would be a death knell for the local community, it has been claimed.
Around 70,000 panels could be installed at Shire-End farm in Path of Condie, making it one of the biggest in the region.
Plans for the project have been submitted to Perth and Kinross Council and have already drawn numerous objections from locals.
Among the complaints is that, with the loss of grazing land, young people will not want to stay and farm in the area.
Ursula Stewart also fears the solar farm will have a detrimental effect on her tourism business, Ochils Edge Glamping.
In a letter to the council, she said: “The proposal will have a negative effect upon the expanding glamping operation on the neighbouring farm, Newtoft (our farm).
“One of the unique selling points of the glamping business here is the unspoilt and unindustrialised views that are dwindling across the country as Scotland’s landscape is taken up by ever more industrialisation.
“Customer feedback indicates the enjoyment of unspoiled views and a contrast from industrialised areas.
“This is an area of low population and economic activity and this proposal would do nothing to help that.”
She added: “A nearby farm, Springhall, is about to succumb to afforestation, meaning the loss of yet more good grazing ground.
“Couple that with this proposal, this area stands to lose a substantial amount of good grazing land, leading to eventual depopulation.”
A spokeswoman for Jigsaw Planning, the agent behind the application, said grazing would not be lost at Shire-End as the scheme was designed to allow this to continue.
She said: “The planning permission is required for a period of at least 25 years, plus construction time for the scheme.
“When the generation of electricity ends, the site can be restored to full agricultural use relatively easily, with no lasting harm or structures that would compromise the agricultural productivity of the site.
“The site will actually be available for grazing whilst the technology is in place.
“The farmer/landowner will still own the land and have access to it for continued grazing, as required.
“There is also a community fund to be set up as a result of the project that can be used for the benefit of local communities and local community projects.”
Solar farm applications for Perth and Kinross have become increasingly common. One major scheme in the Carse of Gowrie has been approved and others are still under consideration at Methven and Forgandenny.
The schemes can provide a financial boost for landowners, with some firms willing to pay up to £700 per acre to lease land.
The projects also go some way to meeting the Scottish Government’s ambitious renewable energy targets.