An MP is standing shoulder to shoulder with villagers objecting to a planned eight-turbine wind farm. Stockton South MP Dari Taylor says the installation of 120-metre high turbines between the villages of Hilton and Seamer, close to Yarm, near Stockton, will be an eyesore. She said: "I think the Government should acknowledge we already have enough to impede the lives we lead. The rural idyll is something we should go to any lengths to protect. Quite frankly, there has been a paucity of thought on this policy. It is just plain wrong. "I am all for renewable energy, but not at any cost. I don't want them to scar the countryside." ...Dr Hicks said: "Its not Nimbyism - it's not in anyone's backyard. "Wind farms are not farms, they are an industrial development. We are opposed to this proposal because of the visual impact it will have on the area, the noise and the health hazard - vibro-acoustic disease."

A Campaign to halt a proposed wind farm on Sheffield parkland is picking up speed. Protesters this week lobbied leading councillors in their attempts to blow away the plans for Westwood Country Park at High Green. And they pointed to opposition from their local MP, Angela Smith, who says the park is "totally unsuitable" for a wind farm, partly because it would be near hundreds of homes. Andy Redfern, who chairs the action group, Save Westwood Country Park, said: "The storm that this has elicited in local people is quite tangible. ...Mr Redfern asked councillors: "Given this is a piece of green belt land and Hillsborough MP Angela Smith opposes these plans, as do local residents, will you abandon the plans? No other windfarms are near so many homes. Please stop this madness."

If you have a hankering to see Britain's green and pleasant countryside or its rugged coastline, you shouldn't wait too long. They are both likely to disappear soon under thousands of massive, swirling, 400-foot wind turbines. Recently, U.K. Industry Secretary John Hutton announced that the British government is planning 25 gigawatts of offshore wind power capacity, adding to the 8 GW already in development. A grand plan that could, in theory anyway, power all of Britain's 25 million homes by as early as 2020. Wind seems to be blowing in the minds of the politically correct and those on the environmentalist bandwagon. But the cost is going to be huge, no companies will plunge into it without massive government subsidies, and should the turbines actually be built, power reliability will almost certainly take a nosedive. ...The bottom line is that the debate about renewables, and investment in them, is as much about ideology and political belief as about economics and environmental issues. When the real cost of wind power as a major player in our future power needs is assessed, the answer won't be found just "blowin' in the wind."

The Scottish Government has ruled out a change in law which would have protected some of the country's most picturesque areas from a "barrage" of wind farm applications. Politicians including Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser had demanded the introduction of a law which would have created "no go" areas for wind farm developments. He insists the legislation would have protected some of Scotland's most beautiful areas, including huge swathes of rural Perthshire in his constituency. ..."We certainly need to have better and stronger guidelines or the current barrage of wind farm applications in areas such Perthshire will continue.

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.

A West Cumbrian man claims his life has been made a total misery because of a windfarm just half a mile from his home. Ron Williams, of The Swallows, Bothel, has revealed that he is taking sleeping pills and suffering mental anguish because of the Wharrels Hill turbines. The 73-year-old is now urging people living near two proposed windfarm sites to do all they can to oppose the applications. ...He said that the low frequency noise had the worst impact. He said: "The swush, swush, swush as each blade breaks the flow of the wind past the tower, obviously three times per revolution is extremely debilitating. The affect is worse at nights when ambient noise level from traffic on the A595 is low."

Pat Northgraves, owner of High Farm Country Park, which is next to the proposed site of the wind farm at Routh, near Beverley, said the plans could threaten local businesses. He said: "Tourism is a key economic driver within the area. "This business could be irrevocably damaged if the proposals proceed. "It would put something at risk, which we built up from scratch and which relies on the natural resources of the region for its continued success. "This risk is unacceptable."

Green-power company Enertrag UK has been accused of declaring war on the Norfolk countryside after revealing proposals for a second windfarm. It is looking to build six wind turbines at New Road, Tivetshall St Mary, and has submitted a "scoping opinion" to South Norfolk Council, asking what information it would need to include in an environmental impact assessment. The village is within 10 miles of Hempnall where Enertrag's proposals to develop seven 130m-high turbines to supply renewable energy for the National Grid have sparked a public outcry. ..."I hope Enertrag's latest move will provoke a genuine debate amongst Norfolk people about the real value that we attach to our rural landscape, and whether we care about protecting it. The challenge for those of us who object to onshore wind turbines in inappropriate areas is to find ways of supporting renewable- energy schemes which don't degrade the countryside."

Eight days ago, to the jubilation of its critics and environmentalists, it emerged that the Scottish executive was "minded to refuse" the £500m scheme as it would seriously damage the moor's extremely fragile, internationally-protected habitats for rare birds such as dunlin, golden eagles, merlin, golden plover and red-throated divers. The moor itself is one of the most ecologically-significant peat bogs in Europe. Scottish ministers have since come under intense pressure to reverse that provisional decision before making a final announcement this month. Councillors, crofters' leaders and the developers are vigorously lobbying ministers and the European commission to save the north Lewis scheme, or at least find a compromise. Today the local Scottish National party MSP, Alasdair Allan, will face those bitterly-disappointed people at a meeting on Lewis.

Conwy councillors yesterday voted to oppose a 250-turbine windfarm off the North Wales coast. They also urged the Government to do the same when it rules on the scheme this year. Developers npower Renewables Ltd had reduced the size of its proposed Gwynt y Môr offshore windfarm but Conwy council's Cabinet nonetheless rejected it. The Cabinet also objected to the fact that the final decision would be taken outside Wales. ...Cabinet member Coun Keith Toy said: "I believe decisions about Wales should be made in Wales." The council voted to object to the proposed windfarm and recommend the Government refuses it due to visual impact, scale, siting, noise and possible adverse effect on tourism.

Plans for wind turbines in Pride Park are to be downgraded because the electricity generators would interfere with phone and radio communication. A year ago, Derby City Council announced a proposal to install up to 10 of the turbines at the business park. The council had planned to offer the power as a green alternative to the various businesses on Pride Park. But now it says this will not currently be possible because the blades of the 400ft-high wind turbines would disrupt Pride Park's telecommunication network by interfering with the transmission of radio and microwaves. Although turbine blades are not of metallic construction, they can reflect and diffract radio waves.

Plans for two large windfarms in rural Denbighshire were yesterday snubbed by officials - despite Parliamentary orders to increase renewable energy production across the UK. Among the reasons cited were fears the removal of trees might lead to flooding, noise pollution and a possible adverse effect on tourism. Denbighshire councillors were advised by their own planners to give the green light to two windfarms totalling 29 turbines. But the county snubbed both plans - and went firmly against their officers' advice. The decision comes despite the same committee agreeing last year there should be windfarms on the exact same spot. ..."This sends a very clear message to the Assembly and to Westminster that local politicians want to determine local planning decisions made on local issues, and not be dictated to from elsewhere. "However, residents are very aware this is unlikely to be the end of the matter."

Two wind farms will not go ahead after officials rejected the proposals which would have seen 29 turbines erected. Planners had been expected to approve the projects in Denbighshire at Llyn Brenig, near Cerrigydrudion, Conwy, and at Gorsedd Bran in Clocaenog Forest. But at a meeting to decide the matter, 18 councillors voted against the proposals, with just four in favour. There were two abstentions.

One of the country's tallest wind farms is being proposed for a site within two miles of more than two thousands homes. An action group has already been formed and the plan for the eight turbines between Cotton Farm between Great Paxton, Graveley, Toseland and the Offords looks likely to face vociferous opposition from those living in the villages. npower is due to submit a formal planning application sometime this year and is currently seeking the views of residents by distributing 6,000 newsletters. ...npower said they had received 342 responses to their newsletter, two thirds of which had been positive. However, Mr Gray says the initial surveys by the action group found more than 90 per cent of locals opposed to it.

Villagers are being urged to pen their objections to show "the strength of feeling" against a proposed 50-metre mast for Elvington. Parish councillors have lodged their opposition to Yorkshire Water's bid to install a wind monitoring mast at its water treatment plant at Elvington. Now they are urging residents to follow suit by appealing to City of York Council. The council also claims residents have been given "insufficient opportunity to comment". Fears have also been raised about how quality of life could be affected by potential noise, flickering shadows and strobe effect' caused by the mast, as well as concerns about the impact on local birdlife.

An SNP MSP has expressed concern about the visual impact of wind farm developments in his constituency. Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford said it was vital new developments did not "diminish an area's scenic character". His comments come despite the Scottish Government's much publicised support for wind-generated energy. Stirling Council has given the go-ahead for three wind farm projects across the local area. A forth is currently being considered. At present the district hosts a prominent 36-turbine wind farm at Braes of Doune and an almost completed 15-turbine development at Earlsburn.

Villagers in Bottesford said an emphatic "no" last night to plans for a huge wind farm close to their homes. Hundreds attended a meeting to present their views to Melton Borough Council's head of regulatory services Jim Worley, who will feed back to councillors on the planning committee. The committee has been asked for its views by South Kesteven District Council planners, who are dealing with the application. ...Villagers' major concerns were the turbines' inefficiency and high level of subsidies, health effects, visual impact, noise, the effect on wildlife, environmental impact of constructing the wind farm, devaluation of properties and the planning process. Joyce Farnese, from Bottesford, said: "What we are talking about here is a rural power station.

People living in west Caithness have voted overwhelmingly against plans to develop 21 wind-powered turbines on farmland near Shebster. A ballot run over the last two weeks of 2007 revealed that just over four in five of those who responded oppose the scheme. ...Caithness West Community Council commissioned the ballot to give the local authority a first-hand indication of local views. A total of 1099 papers were issued, with 470 returned by the December 31 deadline. Seventy-eight (16.6 per cent) voted "yes" and 390 (82.3 per cent) voted "no", with two spoiled papers. A further 12 letters were received - two for and 10 against - but were discounted as the individuals were not on the electoral list. Community council chairman Bill Brown said yesterday the outcome vindicated the formal objection previously submitted by the community council. ...The final say will lie with Scottish ministers.

AN ACTION group in Tallentire has sent residents a template objection letter to plans for a new wind farm in the area. Novera Energy has applied to Allerdale council to build five 105 metre turbines at Fleeter Wood, on land next to West House. But Tallentire Area Action Group chairwoman Margaret O'Hare said she had sent a template letter to nearby residents outlining reasons against the plans. The group wants as many people as possible to sign the letter and send it to the council. It says: "This proposal would result in unacceptable harm to the local landscape in terms of its intrinsic quality and local distinctiveness.

A family who suffered from sleepless nights thanks to nearby wind turbines are continuing the fight against the noise. Jane and Julian Davis, of Deeping St Nicholas, decided to move their family away from the wind farm which was producing a low frequency din that saw them struggle to sleep. The couple complained to South Holland District Council but were left frustrated after the authority's investigations revealed that they were unable to distinguish between the sound made by the turbines and any other noise. Mr and Mrs Davis were upset at the findings and say that it makes planning conditions, based on a government report which assesses and rates the noise given off by wind farms, unenforceable.