ARE solar farms the answer to our energy crisis or simply a blight on the countryside?

Many villagers in north Essex have been posed with the question as plans for thousands of panels pop-up across our green spaces.

In recent months, there has been at four separate proposals unveiled for solar farms in Wix and Bradfield.

The largest of the applications sees Kinetica Solar wanting to place around 53,800 panels on a 63-acre site at Burnt Ash Farm on Spinnels Lane.

District councillor for Wix, Matthew Patten, believes the proposed site is a step too far.

He said: “I would say the local residents are very unhappy – while the amendments have been put in it is still going to be a huge area of fields covered by black glass."