WIND farm champions clashed with critics at a green energy meeting in Kendal, reports Beth Broomby.

Renewable energy campaigners argued wind, wave, hydro and solar power can preserve the local environment from the effects of global warming.

But landscape group representatives, including Friends of Eden, Lakeland and Lunesdale Scenery (Fells), said giant wind turbines were damaging rare Cumbrian landscapes and robbing the Lake District and its surrounding areas of a quality of wilderness.

As previously reported, Fells opposes proposals by West Coast Energy Limited to put up approximately 40, 100-metre-high turbines on land between Bretherdale and Borrowdale.

The Whinash Wind Farm scheme will rank as the largest single industrial scheme ever to have been undertaken in this country in terms of land use. In its entirety, it would create the largest land turbine development in Europe, extending over five miles in length. A planning application could be submitted by the end of this summer.

The meeting heard the North West has 15 wind farms – 12 of which are in Cumbria.

Friends of the Earth national campaigner Bryony Worthington told the public meeting – organised by FOE in Kendal at the United Reformed Church – the pendulum had swung away from a limited number of large national power stations and was moving towards a larger number of small renewable energy sites.

“We are going to be seeing more small-scale renewable energy projects around the country, which means there is bound to be more conflict because more people will come into contact with them.” Former Director General for Energy at the European Commission, Sir Christopher Audland, argued in favour of pursuing nuclear power as an alternative to ever-depleting sources of fossil fuels, claiming the nuclear industry had a 45-year history of safe, clean energy production in the UK.

But Chris Shearlock, of energy group Renewables North West, said renewable energy technology was ever-improving, making it a realistic option for hitting government green energy targets.

In 2002, three per cent of the UK’s energy was provided by renewables. Government targets stipulate by 2010, that target should be ten per cent and by 2020 it should be 20 per cent.

The UK is the sixth lowest wind energy producer, despite having more natural wind resources than many other countries – Germany produces more than 12,000 megawatts, more than 20 times the UK’s output of 555 megawatts.