A COMMITTEE has been formed to rally support for a fight against plans for a wind farm on the moors above Darwen after a crowded public meeting. And Darwen's MP, Janet Anderson (pictured), has written to the chairman of PowerGen warning that local opinion "is already considerable and growing."

She said she would join any campaign to fight the "despoiling of local moorland and to stop it being blighted by gigantic turbines."

Up to 15 wind turbines, more than 200ft high, could be built on White Hill, near Lord's Hall, by PowerGen who are expected to apply soon for planning permission to Blackburn with Darwen Council. The masts will be three times as high as Darwen's 100-year-old Jubilee Tower.

"It won't stop with just one development. We must fight. And we must be confident of winning. More than 70 per cent of these applications are rejected by local councillors. It's up to us to make sure this is turned down flat," ramblers' champion Eric Hatton told the meeting.

Lib Dem Councillor David Foster, who called the protest, said it was important that it was seen as a "community campaign."

"It's not a political fight. It's a fight for everyone, whatever their political affiliation. If it is allowed to happen then a lot of people will be kicking themselves for not joining the fight," he said.

Another speaker insisted that the term "wind farm" missed the point. "They aren't farms. They are industrial developments providing very expensive, heaviliy subsidised and very limited power." Coun Foster said the spin-offs of such a development would be vast. There would be extensive site work with a permanent access and the development would have to be connected to the National Grid. Towering pylons could stretch across the Darwen valley, adding to the unsightly eyesore.

One speaker suggested that if the Labour-controlled council decided to give PowerGen permission "there's nothing we can do about it." He wondered what the Labour group's view was likely to be.

Councillor Frank Connor, chairman of the planning committee, who was at the back of the hall observing said he obviously couldn't commit himself at this early stage. Asked about Darwen's other Labour councillors he said: "They have open minds," said Coun Connor.

Coun Foster said politics should be kept out of the fight.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.