SIR,

I read with incredulity and alarm on the front page of the Beacon that Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) is to invest public money directly in solar farms.

You will be well aware of the current controversial proposal at Wentwood for a 45 acre solar farm that is fiercely opposed by residents (http://www.sosla.co.uk">www.sosla.co.uk), who feel that public consultation has been non-existent, that MCC should have requested a pre-application Environmental Impact Assessment, that incomplete and misleading plans have been submitted.

To many residents the attitude of MCC has been as puzzling as it has been frustrating. Do we perhaps now have an answer as to why? For Councillor Phil Murphy, who himself lives just several miles from Buckwell Farm, Wentwood, to propose that MCC invests directly in such schemes is surely a clear conflict of interest.

I would like to see Councillor Murphy state clearly that recognising this, MCC will not be investing in solar farms within Monmouthshire. As a former energy company executive I would also urge MCC to consider very carefully the financial risks inherent in long term energy investments when deciding where to place public money.

(Name and address supplied)