Campaigners hit out over windfarms

Government plans to build massive windfarms near tourist spots throughout Britain came under fire today. The Green Party claims the Government could ruin areas of natural beauty such as parts of the Devon coastline and even Loch Ness.

They called for the Government to consider building windfarms on abandoned RAF bases, and even attaching smaller turbines to homes.

"There is a risk that these windfarms, which are needed, could be put in entirely inappropriate places," said Dr Spencer Fitz-Gibbons of the Green Party, who spoke at the annual party conference in Weston-super-Mare.

"The Government needs to investigate the use of offshore windfarms and also look at land they have free, such as RAF bases and other military land. They should not be building just anywhere."

Experts also said that alternative energy sources, such as harnessing tidal power, were being ignored.

"A new breed of micro-turbines, small enough to be put on the side of houses, could make a huge difference, as homes could produce part of their own electricity," said Dr Fitz-Gibbons.

Clive Aslet, editor of Country Life, also claims the Government is simply building windfarms because they are an easy option. "Windfarms are not the answer, but the Government is steamrollering them through and building everywhere in Britain. However, they just do not proforduce enough power, and because of the huge number being planned, we could see dozens of Britain's most beautiful tourist spots ruined."

A study by Country Life found a list of areas of outstanding beauty that could be under threat.

Four turbines, 135 feet high, are set to be erected overlooking the Wiltshire Downs. Each would be twice the height of the local church.

However, that farm would be tiny compared with one planned for Whinash, near the Lake District. Forty 300ft turbines are to be placed over five miles of countryside.

Mr Aslet said: "If even a small fraction of the many hundreds of proposals and applications land-based windfarms are granted, our diverse and beautiful landscapes will be peppered with monstrous, swirling catherine wheels."

Kent re s idents are fighting government plans to build 27 turbines, each 370ft high, over 1,000 acres of Romney Marsh. They claim it will harm wildlife and ruin the aesthetic appeal of the marshes. Even botanist and broadcaster Professor David Bellamy joined the row, claiming: "It is not green. It chops up birds. It destroys landscapes."