An American energy company is proposing to install 35 acres of solar panels in fields north of Chippenham.

More than 15,000 panels, each the size of a large door, would stretch across fields equivalent to 18 football pitches near Kington St Michael, Yatton Keynell and Chippenham Without.

A planning application from Sun Power is due in March and representatives from the firm are meeting parish councils and holding public meetings.

The site borders three parishes, and was selected because it is flat and close to the National Grid, allowing between five and six gigawatts of energy to be distributed each year.

A spokesman for Sun Power said the panels will be mounted on poles which move to track the sun and an eight foot security fence will be erected around the site where required.

Despite this the company has assured villagers neither the panels, fence or four small buildings will be visible from the road.

Chippenham Without Parish Council chairman Paul Reynolds met Sun Power staff.

He said: “The concern would be if it was an open site. You wouldn’t want to be able to see it from the road. We will be having a meeting to discuss it within the next fortnight.”

The site is currently used for grazing and during the Second World War was used as a dummy airfield to draw German bombs away from Hullavington airfield.

During construction there would be 75 truck movements over a two month period but once finished maintenance would involve a weekly visit.

The site is not in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and it would be returned to its present state in 25 years.

Kington St Michael Parish Council chairman Linda Durno, said: “At this stage we’re still gathering information.”

The next public meeting is taking place on February 15 from 3pm to 8pm at Kington St Michael Village Hall.