Without any involvement I find the announcement that the city council planners have approved the plans for a solar farm in Sparsholt to be an affront to democracy.

It is reported in the article by Chris Atkinson (Chronicle, October 3) that 160 letters of objection have been submitted and the local councillor for Sparsholt opposed the plans. Another councillor stating that the solar farm is in the wrong location and no attempts appear to have been made for the many alternative locations being considered public opinion being in favour of solar farms.

However, the committee was evenly split with four members in favour and four against. The chairman Cllr Jane Rutter using her casting vote to approve the plans. I strongly suggest the chairman should not have voted in view of the importance of the application and the strength of public opposition. She should have referred back for more consideration.

Lawrence Jones,

Dean Lane,

Winchester

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