Rural communities which could be surrounded by wind farms were yesterday given the opportunity to see the final draft of one of the proposals.

Representatives of Hexham-based Amec were in the Northumberland village of Kirkwhelpington to showcase its plans for 20 turbines at Ray Estate, near the village.

The application was submitted to the Department of Trade and Industry, as it exceeds 50MW, in December.

Yesterday was the start of a four-day public consultation by the company to allow members of the public to see the full Environmental Impact Assessment as well as montages of what the wind farm will look like.

However, villagers remained unconvinced saying there were too many turbines proposed and they were too big. Tynedale councillor for the area, Janet Somerville, an avid supporter of wind energy, said: "The proposal definitely needs further work, there are just too many of them and they are too big for this sensitive area.

"Places such as West Woodburn are going to look directly on to the site."

Clive Oddy, a newsagent who has lived at Eastlands, Kirkwhelpington, for the last 15 years, said: "If they go ahead it will cause serious devaluation of properties in the area. I understand that wind energy is probably going to be the thing of the future, but they are just too big for this area. I can't see that anyone in the local area is going to benefit from them apart from the greedy landowners."

Colin Ormston, development director at Amec was on hand at Kirkwhelpington yesterday to answer residents' queries.

He said: "This is the first opportunity people will have had to see the full submission, including the EIA.

"It is important now that if people do want to comment on the proposal they do so in writing to the DTI."

Amec will be now visiting West Woodburn Village Hall today(TUES), Colwell Village Hall tomorrow and Elsdon Village Hall on Thursday. All will be held between 2pm and 7.30pm.