Misleading images, but you'll grow to like wind turbines says Minister

A wind farm company was 'counter-productive' in misleading people living in north Northumberland over the height of turbines planned near to their homes, the Government's energy minister has said.

But Joan Ruddock, whose mandate covers climate change and renewables at the Department of Energy, said she expected residents would grow to like the 115-metre-high structures proposed by German multi-national E.ON for West Ancroft moor, north of Belford.

The turbines are among more than 70 either approved or currently in the planning system in the 30-mile corridor between Alnwick and Berwick, most of which will top 125 metres from base to blade tip.

E.ON fell foul of the Advertising Standards Agency after promotional photomontages for the proposed West Ancroft installation showed turbines only 43 metres tall.

Two complaints against the company were upheld, that the images were misleading and breached rules on truthfulness.

It has now been told that the adverts must not appear again in their current form and ensure that if they use generic wind farm images in their promotional material they must be more representative of the particular development.

Quizzed over the issue by the Gazette during a visit to Alnwick on Friday, Ms Ruddock said: "We expect utilities to be honest with the public and we have a planning system which exists to examine the case which is put, but it must be based on true information.

"Instances such as this can be counter-productive. This is a matter which needs local community support, and anything which undermines that support is regrettable."

But she added: "Change is necessary, and people are concerned about change, but we need to find ways for the future which give us clean energy and security of supply.

"If you go to continental Europe, you will see that people have now happily accepted wind turbines.

"Tourist areas, for example, where they thought that tourism would be badly affected, have been enhanced because people recognise it as a clean area with cleaner air.

"The Government believes that it is absolutely vital to the future of this country to address climate change and increase the amount of energy coming from wholly renewable sources.

"People who live close to wind farms that have already been built are more in favour of them than those who have not had the experience.

"Instead of being a negative response, people become proud of their contribution."