Your recent article on solar farms (The Argus, August 21) failed to recognise the experimental nature of these vast industrial sites on our land. We are reassured by supporters of the industry that over 27 years it will have no adverse impact on the land, local wildlife or local residents. How do they know this?

Twenty-seven years ago the internet was largely unheard of, then it was hailed as a great technical triumph and today it is the main source of pornography, identity theft and other scams – a side effect that nobody predicted.

The Government is backpedalling on the regulations covering such installations as it sees vast subsidies being soaked up by commercial organisations rather the intended recipients – individuals and small industrial sites to place panels on roofs and small brownfield sites. Commercial organisations are rushing to get planning applications in before the rules change, to exploit loopholes that exist and benefit from the best tariffs.

While renewable energy and energy security are important national matters, we currently import more than one million litres of milk every day. Surely agricultural land should be used to address food issues and brownfield and wasteland to build solar sites.

The Berwick solar planning application is the first major site to be reviewed by Wealden District Council and their decision is likely to set a precedent for the future. The arrival of one will no doubt herald the domino effect of many.

Beware the soothsayers – a solar site could soon be coming to a greenfield near you!

Joe Eagle, Wick Street, Berwick