Leaderdale and Melrose councillor John Paton-Day has called for a halt to wind farm developments in the Borders. The Lib Dem from Earlston was reacting to a letter in TheSouthern last week (October 29 issue) from Mr S. Wilson from Blairgowrie, who described how he had advised a party of 20 hillwalkers from Austria not to visit the region because "the hills have been destroyed by numerous wind farms with a lot more to come".

FALLAGO Rig wind farm developers appear to be optimistic of a positive outcome to the re-opened public inquiry into their planning application and have started pre-investigation work on site. Scottish Borders Council's planning department confirmed that they are "currently investigating allegations in respect to works commencing in advance of a determination in relation to the Fallago Rig Windfarm", local people describing how the heavy plant, toilets etc that had been on the site suddenly disappeared like 'Brigadoon'.

Radical changes to the planning system to help build wind farms, nuclear power stations and new roads are likely to cause a storm of protest across Britain, Andrew Gilligan reports. ..."They are going to industrialise the countryside," says Nick Wadham, a local protester against the scheme. Caroline Evans, another resident, says the sound can travel more than six miles. She had an email from a woman in a nearby village who said she had not slept for three nights after the turbines were installed.

Windfarm operators say new guidelines could jeopardise extension plans for their project near Fintry - and massive cash boosts for local villages along with it. Falck Renewables is looking to extend the Earlsburn windfarm and an application for a further nine turbines is currently with Stirling Council. The new proposal would broaden the community benefits package ...But the company says moves by Stirling Council to update its windfarm policy could prove too restrictive.

A wind farm planned for the Howden area would "industrialise the landscape", it is claimed. Residents living close to the proposed site voiced their fears at an inquiry into the plans. They fear the turbines will create unacceptable levels of noise, disturb wildlife and ruin views.

Back in July, DDC wrote to the Government asking for guidance on how it should deal with a proliferation of ‘speculative' proposals for wind farms in the local area. ...Replying to the council, the Rt Hon Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, Minister of State at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, said: "You make the point that clearer leadership is required on the issue of sustainable energy and what installations are actually needed ...I agree we need to show clear leadership in this area, and while I agree there is more to do, I think we are going in the right direction."

All the evidence has now been heard for and against a controversial Mid Devon wind farm - and both sides are claiming victory. Planning inspector Andrew Pykett spent a week hearing evidence relating to noise at the public inquiry held in Okehampton. Renewable Energy Systems (RES) wants to build nine wind turbines - each 120m tall, or three times the height of Exeter Cathedral - in the Den Brook Valley between Bow, Spreyton and North Tawton.

Delays are expected for north-east motorists today as another delivery of huge wind turbine parts is transported from Peterhead harbour. Traffic in some parts of Buchan ground to a halt yesterday as sections of turbine were transported to Hill of Skelmonae, near Auchnagatt. Between now and December, turbines bound for Banff, Boyndie, St Fergus, Foveran, Cuminestown and Rothienorman will arrive at the Buchan port.

Plans by the Crown Estate to treble its revenues from offshore wind parks have angered energy companies, who say that the move could jeopardise the viability of important new projects and undermine government hopes to boost renewable energy in Britain. The Crown Estate, which owns the seabed out to 12 nautical miles, is already set for a £500 million windfall from offshore wind power production by charging rent based on each unit of electricity produced.

Your Energy Ltd had hoped to build six 100 metre high wind turbines at Parham Airfield, near Framlingham. But the proposals have been thrown into doubt after Suffolk Coastal District Council recently ruled that they will have to reapply for new planning permission if they want to push ahead with the development, which would also have included part of a 310 hectare farm in the parishes of Parham, Great Glemham and Marlesford.

Controversial plans for a new wind farm in the heart of Suffolk have been refused to the delight of campaigners. A previous plan for the two-turbine site at Potash Farm in Wyverstone, near Bacton, was withdrawn after Mid Suffolk District Council planners recommended it for refusal. Now the resubmitted scheme has also been turned down.

Wind industry reveals plan for radar-friendly stealth turbines Wind turbines coated with similar material to make stealth bombers invisible to radar could soon be used to address long-standing concerns that wind farms could disrupt air traffic control systems. From BusinessGreen.com, part of the Guardian Environment Network.

Campaigners against wind farms have hit out at claims councils should be forced to hand over land for turbines. It comes after Hull East MP John Prescott said too many wind turbine planning applications are blocked and urged ministers to take on "nimbys", which stands for "not in my backyard". The former deputy prime minister wants to force councils to earmark sites for wind farms, as part of a strategy to override residents' objections to the developments.

John Prescott has called for councils to be given more responsibility for the UK meeting its renewable energy targets as figures were released yesterday showing that three quarters of proposed wind farm capacity has failed to win local planning approval. Mr Prescott told delegates at the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) conference in Liverpool that councils were "failing to meet their obligations" in terms of renewables".

Objectors to a controversial application to build 20 wind turbines at Davidstow say they are devastated that the plans have been approved - but have vowed to fight on. The application was approved subject to conditions relating to satisfying National Air Traffic Services and concerns from the RSPB . Objectors claim they have been "sold out" by Cornwall Council despite strong opposition to the plans.

Former deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said Britain's targets for green energy were being held up by rural residents anxious to protect their "chocolate box" views. The debate over onshore wind farms in East Anglia hotted up further as the founder of a company behind some of most controversial schemes said decision making should be taken out of local councillors' hands as they were too easily swayed by pressure groups.

An East Yorkshire resident is calling for a change in the law so new wind turbines cannot be built near homes Currently there is no minimum separation distance between homes and the structures, but company director Larry Fleming, from Spaldington, near Goole, wants a 2km limit. Villagers are fighting proposals by two separate developers for 14 turbines standing 400ft tall, three times higher than Howden Minster.

Britain's oldest national conservation body, The Open Spaces Society says it is dismayed Cornwall County councillors have overturned the advice of their officers and approved plans to build 20 wind turbines, each 126.5-metres high, at Davidstow Wood, near Camelford. The society was among the many objectors, which included the Ramblers. Kate Ashbrook, the society's general secretary said: "We deplore this decision, which appears to ignore the advice of the professionals.

John Prescott, the former Deputy Prime Minister, will today launch a ferocious attack on the "landowners and nimbys" who he says are holding up the installation of wind farms across Britain and thus hindering the fight against climate change. In unashamed class-warrior style, Mr Prescott lashes out at opponents of windpower who successfully block planning applications for wind turbines because they may spoil their "chocolate box view".

An entire fleet of around 100 'urban' wind turbines has been remotely shut down by manufacturer Quiet Revolution after the discovery of a design fault. The fleet of QR5 turbines was disabled after continual wind speeds of between 14 and 24 metres per second caused a turbine located on a sea wall in Blackpool to develop a mechanical error, the company said in a statement on Friday. The QR5s have been installed on 55 sites for clients including Network Rail, Sainsbury's and self-storage firm Big Yellow.