I have been told that the two tenant farmers whose rented land is being used for the proposed solar farm north of Washford had their land downgraded following a survey at the end of last year.

Prior to that it was graded 2 and better by the old MAFF, as can be seen clearly on the maps provided by Nature England on their website.

Now it is graded 3b and 4, the lowest grades you can get, unsuitable for agricultural purposes and therefore quite appropriate for solar farms etc.

Can anybody explain how the farmers are managing to grow some magnificent crops of wheat on the land which can plainly be seen as you drive past?

And why should there be a drastic deterioration in the quality of the land which was only discovered six months before the landowners have stated their intentions to place the solar farm there?

David Chadwick, Monkscider House, Washford.