Green group anger at wind farms

The wind farms would have up to five turbines

Conservationist and TV presenter David Bellamy is to be one of the main speakers at a public meeting against wind farms planned for County Durham.

EDF Energy wants to build at sites in Trimdon Grange, Broom Hill, Oakenshaw, High Hedley and Royal Oak.

Plans would see up to five turbines at each site, which would be capable of producing power for 23,000 homes.

But the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) says the move would ruin the countryside.

Professor Bellamy is to be one of several speakers at a public meeting to be held in Durham on 18 June.

The speakers will include fellow campaigners already trying to block similar wind farm plans elsewhere in the country.

Public meeting

A CPRE spokesman said: "How to tackle the threat posed by climate change, without damaging the countryside is a serious challenge facing government, conservationists, and anyone with an interest in the environment.

"The government has set a target to produce 10% of electricity by renewable energy by 2010, and 20% of total electricity production to come from renewable sources by 2020.

"At present there is a large emphasis on wind power to deliver this target.

"We have organised a public meeting to highlight the issues."

EDF Energy already has three turbines at the High Hedley site and the proposals are to add a maximum of four more.

The company has been given permission to install meteorological monitoring masts at the sites to check wind speeds and atmospheric conditions.

A company spokesman said: "Local opinion is very important to us and we would encourage everyone who has a question or who is interested in the projects to make their feelings known."

The company said it had taken environmental factors into account.