Cops issue warning to King Charles over his massive new solar farm with 2,000 panels on his Sandringham estate
COPS have issued a stark warning to King Charles over his massive new solar farm.
The eco-conscious monarch, 75, has submitted plans to add around 2,000 panels to his Sandringham estate in a bid to provide the site with zero-carbon energy.
Charles' proposal, which claims to “meet current and predicted future electricity demands of the Sandringham Estate”, was put to King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Council last month.
Norfolk Police has since objected and warned that the panels hoped to be installed on horse grazing paddocks could attract the attention of thieves.
It comes as the renewable resources will be tucked away from tourists - covered in grass and enclosed by tall trees.
Plans filed do not include any extra security measures at the historic grounds, such as CCTV cameras.
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Papers lodged read: "The nature of the location means that security measures across the Estate are already high.
"This being the case, no additional security measures (CCTV, etc.) are proposed as part of this application."
Police however, fear the lack of amped-up protection will make it a target for criminals as they see an increase in material thefts.
Steve Gower, a Designing Out Crime Officer at Norfolk Constabulary, said: "The rate of thefts from such facilities has been increasing in recent years," reports MailOnline.
He continued: "The combination of the rise in the value of scrap metal and the remote locations of such venues in rural areas means that security needs to be appropriately considered."
For the solar panels to be secure, Mr Gower recommended extra fencing, more cameras, better lighting in the area and a modern gate to deter intruders climbing over.
The panels will be placed along 2.3 hectares of land and provide 2.1MW of energy.
Most will supply Sandringham House with a small amount exported to the grid.
The application adds: “The proposed development forms part of the Estate’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and promoting environmental practices.”
The expansion of of solar sources comes just two years after they were added to the roof of Sandringham House.
The Sun has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.