Objectors to a planned solar farm on agricultural land at Great Pagehurst Farm in Staplehurst invited local politicians to visit and view the site - and were delighted with the result.

The sitting MP for Maidstone and the Weald Helen Grant attended, as did Eddie Powell who will be her Ukip rival at May’s election.

The Liberal Democrat candidate Jasper Gerard was unable to attend because of a prior commitment, but sent the residents a letter of support.

Local borough councillor John Perry was present and Lib Dem Cllr Paulina Watson, who was in hospital, sent her husband Andrew in her stead.

Shirley Roche, who organised the meeting, said: “There was a good turnout. It was good to see that this matter overrides politics.”

Mr Watson said: “It was quite clear that everyone at the meeting was against this proposal. Both Mrs Grant and Mr Powell agreed it was completely in the wrong place.

“We are not all against solar power per se, but this location on prominent rising ground is wrong.”

Mr Watson said there was also concern about the planned entrance to the site, immediately opposite the Marden Meadow Nature Reserve.

He said: “It must have a deleterious effect on the wildlife.”

Mr Powell said: ”Such a shame that a beautiful field, such as this, should even be considered for a solar farm.

“We, as a people, need to do more to protect our precious green fields and countryside.”

Residents argued that far from being a “green” proposal, the loss of usable farming land would ultimately lead to higher food imports and the associated carbon costs of transport.

The landowner, Eckley Farms, said the site was Grade 3 farming land, known to be wet, that could be problematic for arable farming.

The applicants, Sunsave 22 (Pagehurst) Ltd, argued that even with the solar farm, the land would still continue to produce food because the ground around and beneath the arrays would be sown with grass and wild flower mix, so that sheep could graze it.

The proposal is for fenced array covering 20 hectares, with a total of 64,320 solar panels.

The site has been chosen because of its proximity to an overhead power cable that the generated electricity could feed into.

Planning application 13/1456 refers.