Making the wrong argument.

[Workingman]

There is a proposal to build 240 windmills in the Bristol Channel, but campaigners are against. No surprises there.

However, their argument is flawed: "They call this an offshore wind farm - it's inshore. It is between this beautiful Devon coast visited by four million people every year and the Pembroke coast visited by three million people every year.

"And people don't come here to see the landscape and the horizon covered in wind turbines. They come here for peace, tranquillity, rural settings and seascapes."

That might well be true, but it comes across as NIMBY. They have to look elsewhere.

Proponents say that it would provide enough power for 900,000 homes and they quote Gunfleet Sands site near Clacton - operated by the developer. It operates the 48 turbines, which have been up and running for three years, and supply electricity to 120,000 homes in Essex. These are the things to be challenged.

Having a supply to 128,000 homes is not the same as powering 128,000 homes. Having the potential (rated output) to power 900,000 homes is not the same as having the ability to power 900,000 with that rated output. In both cases none of the homes will ever be able to do without electricity generated from oil, gas, coal or nuclear. They will be extremely lucky if they get 20% of their power from wind.

The reason why windmills are so heavily subsidised is because they are inefficient - nobody would bother with them without the subsidies. Conversely, if they were commercially viable the capitalist market would be flooded with companies building them right, left and centre. It isn't.

[KateLMead]

£24,000 a year for all the landowners who are willing to put these monstrosities up that are only 2% effective, that destroy the habitat of wildlife, can cause increased epilepsy for sufferers. We are fighting them being erected here in Wales.. Eyesores, ineffective and a gift for greedy farmers and landowners.

[Workingman]

We are fighting them being erected here in Wales...

Good, but go down the effectiveness route and bang about their inefficiency. Dig out all you can about long term wind speeds on the site and the amount of time (of day) they will be in the 'sweet' zone to provide electricity - when there is no wind, too little wind, or too high a wind they are useless. Just because it says 2.5MW on the baseplate does not mean that is what will be produced. By all means mention the subsidies and the environment and so on, but if you focus too much on them you will sound like NIMBYs and they will be well prepared to counter you. Good luck, and keep us informed.

[KateLMead]

not only are they useless Frank, its another ploy to make the big companies richer (for a hefty fee I am sure) and the greedy farmers who are too willing to erect them on our doorstep for a handsome yearly pay out.. Many farmers and prospectors have been buying land up in our area knowing that the subsidies are guaranteed to make them richer than they are now.. I do not know whether we will succeed but we are having a good try to stop this desecration of the countryside

[Workingman]

Kate, I understand your ire at the landowners, speculators and subsidies, but there are many appeals/protests that have failed on those grounds.