Three controversial applications to build wind farms in north Northumberland were sensationally thrown out by planners today. Berwick Borough Council's planning committee rejected the scheme for 20 turbines near Berwick after a heated six hour meeting. The committee said the plans would have dominated the landscape. Officers had recommended the Moorsyde and Barmoor developments - seven and six turbines respectively - be approved. Members went against those recommendations with only chairman Coun Brian Douglas voting in favour.

Controversial plans for Rotherham's first wind farm could end up being referred to the Government. Rotherham Council is due to consider an application to erect three 95m wind turbines at Loscar Farm, Harthill, tomorrow. But the application will almost certainly be referred to the Department for Communities and Local Government for consideration before a final decision is taken. The department will be asked if it plans to intervene in the planning procedure on the grounds the wind farm is innopropriate in the Green Belt. If it doesn't, councillors could agree the scheme.

Councillors have just upheld their decision to refuse planning application for a huge wind farm north of Grantham. South Kesteven District Council's development control committee this afternoon voted 10 to 2 to refuse the application by Dorset-based developer Infinergy. There were dozens of members of the public at the meeting at the Guildhall ballroom, in Grantham, echoing scenes from a fortnight ago when councillors originally voted to refuse the application. ...After the vote was taken to refuse the application, the result was greeted with applause from members of the public.

A School's plans to build a 15-metre high wind turbine on its land have whipped up a storm in Longlevens. Bishops College has applied to planners at Gloucester City Council for permission for the wind turbine with three 2.28-metre blades on its playing field at the back of the Estcourt Close school. ...The generator and turbine blades have been designed to minimise noise, according to the applicant. But some neighbours aren't impressed.

A motion put forward by an anti-wind turbine councillor to stop structures over 75m tall being built in west Norfolk looks set to be rejected by the council. Independent councillor David Markinson had put forward the motion in regards to the council's approach to future planning applications for developments over 75m in height. The motion will be discussed by West Norfolk council's cabinet at their meeting on April 1, but the cabinet is asked to reject it as it would 'undermine' the council's position.

Council leaders have given the go-ahead for a detailed examination of four possible sites for Oxford's first wind turbines, all on city council-owned land. But they were immediately warned by Oxford Preservation Trust that the move would send out the dangerous message that even Oxford's most famous views were no longer protected. A detailed study will examine whether the "community scale" turbines, which generate electricity, could be built close to Hinksey Heights Golf Club and at Cutteslowe Park.

Controversial plans to build a test mast near a site earmarked for a major wind farm have been turned down. The 60m mast was proposed to be located in a field between Seamer and Hilton villages, gathering wind data over a period of two years. ...Stockton Council's planning committee was told it could not consider the possible future provision of a wind farm when determining the application for a mast. But many residents argued that the monitoring mast is simply "a pre-cursor" or a "Trojan horse" for the wind farm.

Councillors in Northumberland will next week be advised to approve two controversial wind farm applications but refuse a third. Berwick Borough Council yesterday released its officer reports on the three schemes, which are due to be determined at an all-day meeting of its planning committee on Thursday next week. Officers recommend the applications for seven turbines at Moorsyde and six at Barmoor, from Your Energy and Force 9 respectively, are approved. But Npower Renewables' proposal for seven structures at Toft Hill is recommended for refusal.

A couple who live half a mile from the site of a proposed wind farm fear they could be surrounded by turbines after learning of another possible development near their home. Reg and Tamsin Watson, of Ancroft Southmoor Farm, near Berwick, Northumberland, featured in The Journal last July expressing their dismay at Your Energy's proposal to build 110m structures at Moorsyde - just 700 metres from their property. Now the couple are facing the prospect of another 10 turbines of 115m on the other side of their home.

More wind turbines may need to be built off the Lincolnshire coast if the UK is to meet tough targets on renewable energy. Experts have claimed there is little chance of Britain meeting its goal of getting 15 per cent of all its energy from green sources by 2020. To do so, it is thought up to 12,500 new off-shore wind turbines will be needed over the next decade.

The proposal was rejected by councillors last summer. They went against officer recommendations and turned down the scheme. Airtricity appealed against that decision which is now being taken to public inquiry.

A major conference on renewable energy opens in Stornoway today while the Western Isles wait for news on whether Lewis is to host Europe's largest wind farm. The event is being held by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the Western Isles Council, which has backed Lewis Wind Power's bid for a 176-turbine development. The Scottish Government has said it is "minded to refuse" the project but has yet to make a final decision. Jim Mather, the minister for enterprise, energy and tourism, will address the conference but he is not expected to announce a decision on the wind farm.

A Planning inquiry into a windfarm planned for the Eden Valley ended yesterday. It will determine whether a three-turbine development at Hoff Moor, near Appleby, can go ahead after all. The government planning inspector reserved his decision in the case but it is expected to be made public in about two months. Members of Eden Council's planning committee went against the recommendations of their own officers last year when they turned down the scheme.

Controversial plans to build a test mast near a site earmarked for a major wind farm have been turned down. The 60m mast was proposed to be located in a field between Seamer and Hilton villages, gathering wind data over a period of two years. ... Janet Bainbridge said: "I have lived in Seamer for 36 years and I can't believe anyone would wish to industrialise the only remaining piece of countryside between Ingleby Barwick and the Cleveland Hills, replacing it with monstrous, churning, expensive and inefficient wind turbines." The majority of councillors on the committee voted against the planning officers' recommendation to accept the test mast proposal due to the impact on the landscape and the appearance of the development.

Campaigners battling plans for a wind farm on the outskirts of Sheffield claim the turbines will be too near homes. Andrew Redfern, chairman of Save Westwood Country Park action group, said the farm would be closer to thousands of homes and schools than accepted safety limits in Scotland, Wales and mainland Europe. The council has identified the park as a possible site for a wind farm with up to six turbines.

Plans for a wind farm near Bottesford have been refused in the last few minutes. ...During the debate on the plan Infinergy chief executive Charles Sandham warned Vale of Belvoir residents of an impending "climate catastrophe" and has asked to "borrow the landscape" for 25 years to help address the issue. Lead planning officer Mark Shipman told committee members before the vote that the plan was one of national importance.

Plans to land a 200 mile long power cable to export power from Shetland's proposed windfarm have been condemned by a local fish grower as "a double whammy" to his business. Yesterday (Thursday) it emerged that Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Ltd (SHETL) plan to land the interconnector cable in scenic Weisdale Voe, on Shetland's west side, after eliminating a shortlist of five other landing sites. Under the plans, the cable will hook up to the 160 turbine windfarm being planned by community-owned Viking Energy and SHETL's parent company Scottish & Southern Energy at a convertor station in the Kergord valley.

A decision on whether a wind farm can be built north of Grantham could be made on Tuesday. Planning officers at South Kesteven District Council have recommended plans to build 10 410ft turbines near Bottesford and Long Bennington be approved. The council's development control committee will consider the matter on Tuesday and have set aside five-and-a-half-hours in which to make a decision. If a decision cannot be reached, the committee will re-convene the following Monday. But anti wind-farm campaign group BLOT this week formally objected to senior planning officer Kevin Cartwirght's report for the committee, calling it "biased" towards the developer Infinergy. Chairman Pandora Mawer said:"It contains no analysis or critique of Infinergy's claims or the Environmental Statement and devotes just one side of A4 to visual impact, which is a major issue."

Controversial plans for a wind farm in the Rhins have been met with a storm of protest. Wind Energy (North Rhins) Ltd want to build 11 wind turbines on land at Low Auchenree, High Auchenree, Craigenlee, Crailloch and Dunskey near Port Patrick. One hundred and eight letters objecting against the proposals have been received by the planning department - including some from as far away as Carlisle, Leeds, Yorkshire, Glasgow and Tyne and Wear. The objectors claim the development will be wholly inappropriate for the site. But the planning department have recommended the wind farm be approved. ...Planning officer Peter Barker says in a report: "The objectors are obviously concerned about the apparent market free-for-all from wind energy operators. "Developers are now turning their attention to sites that have lower wind speeds and potentially conflict more severely with natural heritage destinations." The turbines will be visible from 45 per cent of the Rhins, and from Loch Ryan and Luce Bay, and will dominate views locally and for many miles around, according to objectors.

The government's approval of a huge windfarm on the edge of the Thorne Moors Nature Reserve has prompted a mixed reaction. Environmental pressure groups have welcomed the green light for energy firm E. ON's plans for 22 turbines at the Tween Bridge which will produce enough power for up to 26,500 homes. But the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and local campaigners say they are horrified at its potential impact on the peat lowlands landscape. The project was approved after a six-month public inquiry and following an agreement being struck between E. ON and Robin Hood Airport as bosses at the transport hub originally feared the wind farm would interfere with its radar system.