A listed church has launched a legal challenge against a national park after it was refused planning permission to install solar panels on its roof.<br /><br />Wardens want to make the 280-year-old grade II listen St Anne's Church more energy efficient by installing 28 solar panels on its slate roof.<br /><br />But planning chiefs at the Lake District National Park refused permission as they would hide the slate roof of the Georgian church in the village of Ings, near Kendal.<br /><br />In its ruling, the authority said the plans "would represent a visual intrusion, disruption and contrast in the consistency of materials displayed in the building."<br /><br />It ruled it would be have an "adverse impact on the outstanding universal values of the English Lakes World Heritage Site and the character of the local area".<br /><br />However, a church judge from the Diocese of Carlisle has blessed the plans, giving official Church of England backing to an appeal by the church's wardens.<br /><br />Church warden John Hiley, 75, said: "We are all absolutely on the same page - so much happens in the church.<br /><br />"The view of the south-facing roof is extremely restricted and you can hardly see it unless you are infront of the church.<br /><br />"But in the majority of the village, you can't see it anyway. There's three residents who can see the roof and they are all shocked at the national park's decision."<br /><br />The authority said the church, which dates back to 1743 with a roof made of "weathered local slate", is of "high historic significance".<br /><br />Its decision was supported by conservation groups the Georgian Group and Historic England.<br /><br />But locals in the village have voiced their support for the plans, which they say are much-need for a more sustainable energy resource.<br /><br />Parish councillor Paul Riley, 67, has lived next to the church for 15 years and says nobody has any objections. <br /><br />He said: "The daft thing is, is that we want sustainability and we want to keep it as a church and need to help it pay its way, so nobody has any objections. <br /><br />"I'm sure they will look as nice as possible. There's only a few people who could see them, that's including me, and none of us are complaining about it whatsoever. <br /><br />"It's because it's a historical building and a listed building but to us, there's no logical reason why you couldn't do it."<br /><br />Everley Buckley, 75, has lived in the village all of his life and is 'totally in favour' of the panels because they 'wouldn't be seen from anywhere'.<br /><br />He said: "I'm totally in favour of them - they are not visible apart from three little houses so they aren't even visible from the main road. <br /><br />"They wouldn't been seen from anywhere really. <br /><br />"A lot of cathedrals in the country have solar panels on them now - and they will be much more visible than what these will be. <br /><br />"It's a very well looked after church and the community is very thriving community and nearly everyone is in support of doing this."<br /><br />Barrister James Fryer-Spedding from the Church’s Consistory Court, has given his blessing to the scheme.
