A further 67 acres of agricultural land in the Weald could soon be covered with solar panels under plans being developed by Renewable Connections Ltd.

The firm is holding a pubic exhibition today on its plans for "Mathurst Solar Farm" which it hopes to develop 2km southwest of Staplehurst and around 2km east of Curtisden Green.

The farm would produce an estimated 18 MW, enough electricity to power 5,000 homes.

The company said: "Mathurst Solar Farm will help to support the delivery of urgent national and local climate objectives to generate more renewable energy to support the move away from fossil fuels.

"As we prepare our planning application to Maidstone Borough Council, we are undertaking a public consultation to inform local communities of our proposals and to invite their feedback."

The consultation runs until August 9.

This afternoon, there is an information day at North Hall in Staplehurst Village Centre between 2.30pm and 6.30pm, where members can ask questions of the firm's representatives.

The site is crossed by a public right of way which will be retained.

Site access will be via Goudhurst Road. Construction is expected to take six months and the site could be operational by 2024.

Robin Oakley of Pinnock Lane, Staplehurst, is the secretary of the Staplehurst Neighbourhood Plan Review Group, tasked with bringing the village's Neighbourhood Plan, that was adopted in 2016, up to date.

He said: "Most people in Staplehurst are completely unaware of this proposal at the moment.

"I am not opposed to solar power - it's something there has to be more of."

He said: "But I do have a number of questions about this proposal which I will be putting to the firm."

Among them was what will happen to the land when the solar farm reaches the end of its life after 40 years.

For more information visit here.

The proposal follows got on the heels of one by Starkraft for a solar farm to cover 187 acres of farmland west of Marden.

That scheme has seeded the establishment of a protest group in Marden to oppose the plan.