It has been confirmed that plans for “Europe’s largest solar energy park” on 900 acres of farmland has finally been pulled by the Conservative-run City Council. It has also been revealed that at the same time as cutting services and closing care centres, the Tories at the Town Hall have also spent two years – and £3 million – pushing the plans forward.

DThe plans were controversial. Land at Morris Fen, Thorney and Newborough would have been used for the solar farm with tenants of council owned farms forced to surrender their leases on some of the most fertile land in England.

With the council facing a budget shortfall of £22 million, many local residents will be asking serious questions about the local Conservatives’ ability to manage the city’s finances.

Cllr Nick Sandford, Lib Dem group leader, said, “The Lib Dems support renewable energy. Under this government the amount of electricity generated from renewable sources has doubled, and we support action from the Council to put solar panels on the roofs of local schools and public buildings. However we cannot support the Conservatives wasting money like this while other vital services face cutbacks.