TO find myself as the chair of Lydney Town Council's planning committee for the first time, and, as a Green for my entire adult life, opposing the solar farm commonly known as Nibley/Purlieu required weighing up many different opinions.

What I felt was the community benefit being offered by the developer was pitiful and derisory – at least six times less than barely acceptable standards – and that was why I opposed the scheme.

I am completely in favour of a comprehensive programme of ongoing and wholesale renewable energy building and energy-saving.

But now that we have people for and against renewable who are at least now communicating let's get some sensible and practical policy in place.

We need more renewables now – they are an investment for the future, they generate income, they provide jobs.

So more applications, please.

– James Greenwood, Purton.