YOUR big headline in the paper of the week ending June 26 was very appropriate to our case in Awre too. It is nothing but bribery to be offering hundreds of thousands of pounds to local councils. The main issue here at Awre is the threat of an industrialised landscape of 187,000 panels being imposed on the beautiful Awre riverbank. Awre is mentioned in Domesday, has several grade II-listed houses and a 13th century parish church which is also listed. The view from the churchyard, at present, looking down on the river and across to the Cotswolds must be one of the best in England. Unfortunately the plan is to put solar panels here as well. We object to this development being called Awre Peninusla Farmers' Community when it involves two farmers only – one of whom owns three-quarters of the land. There are many other successful farmers who are not involved in this. In 2010 the farmers of Awre campaigned, with much support from us villagers, to agree to get the Environment Agency to keep strengthening the riverbank. We won and the Environment Agency agreed to do this for the next 25 years. The farmers then said this was valuable agricultural land which had been farmed for centuries. Rive alluvium is a rich soil. We grow lots of our vegetables here at Brays Court. Keeping a few sheep grazing between the panels does not provide the food for the country that lots of crops and grazing cows would provide as in the past. The company claims it is safeguarding local farming – this is palpable nonsense. This will only provide large profits for the solar company and the two farmers involved. The company has often portrayed the farmers as suffering financially. They ignore all the subsidies the EU has provided over the years and there are many in the pipeline now. I am not against farmers, coming from a farming family in Yorkshire who, for generations, farmed the land. It is in the nature of farming that you face crises periodically. I am not against solar panels either – in the correct location. The Awre peninsula is a unique landscape and must be kept so for future generations. It is also a great tourist attraction for the Forest of Dean. – Molly Leefield, Awre.