BEFORE we allow the wind farm industry to further wreck the British countryside, let us pause and instigate a Royal Commission into the use of onshore wind power. This could look at the efficacy of onshore wind power, the value to the taxpayer of the vast sums of money paid in subsidy to the wind farm industry, financial and other links between that industry and political parties, the health risks to the public from wind farms, alternatives to wind farms, and how damaging the construction of turbines will be to tourism and other industries. And, in the meantime, let us suspend all planning applications for wind farms until such a commission reports back. If all of your readers would lobby their Member of Parliament for such a commission they might do much to stop the utter desecration of our countryside. Please write to your MP today! John Bainbridge Address supplied WE are familiar with policies and plans from all levels of government stating a commitment to ?sustainable development?. Unfortunately, action has rarely matched the rhetoric. The Government?s chief scientific adviser has said climate change is the most severe problem facing humanity. However, the Government now expects to achieve barely 50% of its key target in this area, ie, to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 20% of 1990 levels by 2010. A regional renewable energy assessments report was produced for Government in 2002 which assessed the contribution the UK?s regions could make to the growth of renewable energy. The south west region has a target of generating a minimum of 11-15% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2010 and Devon a target of generating 103 megawatts annually from onshore wind compared to the current installed capacity of only three megawatts . A planning application has been submitted to West Devon Borough Council for a development which would make a significant contribution to achieving Devon?s target. The proposed Den Brook wind farm near North Tawton would produce 18 megawatts, sufficient electrical energy to satisfy the average annual requirements of approximately 11,500 homes and equivalent to 57% of the annual consumption of all the houses in West Devon. By displacing fossil fuel power generation the wind farm would prevent 40,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere each year. Like the central Government, our borough council frequently refers to ?sustainable development? in its plans. If we are to stop catastrophic climate change now is the time for action. I urge both the public and local politicians to give the Den Brook wind farm proposal their full support. Martin Quinn West Devon Green Party 61 Old Exeter Road Tavistock