A couple are calling for the removal of two wind turbines on a Furness fell which they claim have not been in use for several months.

Gillian Haythornthwaite and Barry Moon, who live at Marton, near Ulverston, claim one if the turbines on the Far Old Park Farm at Ireleth has been out of action since before Christmas 2006, while another stopped working about seven or eight months ago.

This week they sent a letter to Barrow Borough Council asking that something be done about the situation and that action be taken against owner E.on, Formerly Powergen, who installed the farm, which has seven turbines, each measuring 131 ft in height.

The couple claims that when planning permission for the farm was given in 1997, the conditions imposed state that should a turbine be out of use for a year, it must be removed.

Mrs. Haythornthwaite said: We decided to write the letter because of all the problems we have had over the years with the windfarm.

"The developers always seem to go to great lengths to get the masts put up I the first place - this one went to a public inquiry - but then they do not do anything about them when they break.

In their letter the couple writes: "Although we do not know the exact date that turbine 4 ceased operating we do know for certain that it was just before Christmas 2006. This turbine has therefore not operated for a period in excess of a year and we request you to take the necessary action to ensure that E.on now remove it from the site.
"We should also like to mention that turbine number 5 has also not operated for about 7/8 months and that if E.on are not going to repair this turbine either, than this turbine should also be removed from the site."

They add: "There is certainly no doubt that during this period when both turbines number 4 and 5 have not been operation it had been absolutely wonderful at our house.

But Phil Huck, director of regeneration and community services, said: "Our interpretation of the condition placed by the planning Inspectorate on the development is that the displacement prevision relates to the whole wind farm and not individual turbines.

"Had he (the planning inspector) wished for that to be the case, he would have said so and not referred to the turbines. I think there has been a misunderstanding of the terms."

It is not the first time the farm has been shrouded in controversy. The plans went to a public inquiry before being given approval in 1997.

MAIWAG, the Marton, Askam and Ireleth Windfarm Action Group, was formed by local residents to protest against the development, which began operating in 1999.

And in 2004, a group of residents took legal action because they believed the farm caused ‘noise nuisance' but a judge at South Lakeland Magistrates' Court, Kendal, found the site operator Wind Prospect and Powergen not guilty.

A spokesperson for E.on said: "We are having trouble sorting out parts to repair the two out of action wind turbines. We are working as hard as we can to get them fixed as quickly as possible.