THE Government's declared intent to "force" local councils to approve more wind farm applications, not only shows their contempt for local democracy and the hypocrisy of their devolution rhetoric, it also means the end for ever of our stunning northern landscape.

Already, local people can view the controversial application for the proposed installation of 26 wind turbines on Scout Moor, near Edenfield. But how many more people are aware that the Government is just as equally strong-minded to set up wind farms in the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and other scenic parts of the north?

The constant fawning towards the European Union by Labour ministers, just so they can comply with the green "tick box" syndrome, will lead to gigantic wind farms dominating and industrialising some of the finest countryside in England. Hundreds of wind turbines, each the size of Blackpool Tower, will devastate the landscape: all this to achieve a 0.06 per cent cut in CO2 emissions. It is a minuscule saving in the grand scheme of things and one which, in any case, would be wiped out by six months of economic expansion in communist China.

Nor will they replace a conventional power station, as these must be kept to cover for these inefficient, ugly windmills that cannot operate at high or low wind speeds. Why then doesn't the Government achieve greater savings in emissions by spending the huge wind farm public subsidies on energy conservation? Or is it because this wouldn't show Tony Blair's "environmentalism" quite so visibly?

New Labour, new landscape. Welcome to the new north of England, soon to become a giant advertising hording for the Prime Minister's fake green credentials with no thought for Mother Nature. The green lobby will take so-called renewable energy at any price: even at the ruin of the environment itself.

JEAN ALLISON (Mrs),

Ramsbottom.