MAY we comment on your article (LET, July 5) on wind farms?

Firstly, wind farms are not farms at all - they are large, grotesque industrial developments which have to be sited in areas where a suitable and sustained wind speed is available.

This means that high, exposed sites are essential. As they are invariably situated in areas of great natural beauty, the threat to our countryside is plain.

It entails visual and audio pollution on a grand scale, disturbance to and loss of wildlife and habitat, and substantial devaluation of property.

Perhaps it would be worth the sacrifice if it resulted in the closure of nuclear power stations. However, not one will close as a result of building wind turbines. In all cases, the yearly output of any wind farm can be bettered in most cases in hours, and, in others, in days by the Drax Power Station.

The energy Minister, John Battle, says 'some' people oppose wind farms but there is 'substantial opinion' in favour of them. He should be aware that there was and is overwhelming objection from all sections of the public to proposals for wind farms in the Ribble Valley, which would desecrate this designated area of outstanding natural beauty.

It is worth bearing in mind that we, the public, pay for this desecration, both in the loss of amenities and in the form of substantial subsidies paid to the operators of wind farms, without which, I am willing to bet, they would not be built.

Landowners are reported to receive between £1,000 and £2,000 a year per turbine, in ground rent. No wonder there is such a rush of applications. It is a better bet than the National Lottery.

The Ribble Valley is still awaiting planning applications and there is a proposal to build 25 turbines on Darwen Moors. There are countless more applications in the pipeline across the country. We believe they should be stopped and ask people to support our objection to these monstrosities.

G AND B PAYNE, Lennox Farm, Old Clitheroe Road, Dutton, and J and H STRINGFELLOW, Michaelmas Cottage, Dutton.

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