Nov 14 - The Journal - Newcastle-upon-Tyne

A wind farm development would cause "unacceptable harm" to the Northumberland landscape, a council said yesterday as a major public inquiry began into a fiercely controversial plan.

The long-awaited hearing into the proposed Middlemoor wind farm opened yesterday after months of argument as the debate has raged over the impact of the turbines on the county.

Alnwick District Council and nPower Renewables locked horns at the hearing which was also attended by placard-waving supporters and protesters outside Northumberland Hall, in Alnwick.

For the council, Paul Tucker said: "It will bring some benefits in terms of renewable energy but will result in unacceptable harm to the landscape."

But John Ainslie, head of consents at nPower, said the wind farm had the potential to provide significant local and regional economic benefits.

Full story: Page 4

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