CAMPAIGNERS are hoping people power will blow out PowerGen's controversial plans to build a wind farm on Darwen Moor. Members of a recently formed campaign group will take to the streets tomorrow (Saturday) armed with clipboards and pens to try to persuade the public to support their campaign.

Organisers aim to collect enough signatures on a petition to persuade PowerGen that its wind farm - with turbines which could be THREE times as tall as the nearby Jubilee Tower - is not wanted.

Darwen Moors Wind Farm Opposition Group already has the support of Darwen MP Janet Anderson and cross party backing from local councillors and is in consultation with other groups who have successfully opposed similar schemes.

PowerGen insists it will listen to residents views before submitting a planning application to Blackburn with Darwen Council. But if it gets premission to build the farm up to 15 wind turbines, more than 200ft high, could be built on White Hill, near Lord's Hall. Campaign member Julian Donnelly said: "PowerGen wants to industrialise one of the last pieces of unspoilt countryside in our area.

"Each one of the turbines would dwarf Darwen Tower and the proposed wind farm would dominate the landscape for miles around. For the very small amount of electricity which would be generated, the cost to the local environment is too high."

Members will be collecting signatures and distributing information on Saturday morning outside Darwen Market Hall.

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