PROTEST groups are joining forces to fight proposals for windfarm developments near their homes.

The groups plan to present a united front against developments they say are unnecessary.

The Durham Action Against Windfarms (DAAW) group has been formed from organisations opposing plans, including EDF Energy's proposals for Royal Oak, near Shildon, Oakenshaw near Willington, and Trimdon Grange, near Sedgefield, and HJ Banks' proposals for Satley, near Tow Law.

Margaret Flynn, a member of the Trimdon Grange protestors, said: "We have come together to give us a greater voice rather than campaign independently of each other."

She said protestors' research indicated that the low amount of power from turbines did not justify them being portrayed as significantly improving environmentally friendly power generation.

The protestors believe the Government needs to delay the process to allow for a fuller national debate on the effectiveness of windfarms.

Mrs Flynn said: "We do not feel these windfarms are the answer to global warming. They are also putting these developments just metres from people's homes, which is ludicrous."

She said that in addition to developments already proposed in the county, protestors feared that more would be needed to meet the UK's energy needs.

She said: "The countryside will be covered in them."

Malcolm Campbell, one of the protestors against plans for up to 25 turbines at Satley, said: "This is wholesale desecration of the countryside. These are huge structures."

Phil Dyke, director in charge of renewables for HJ Banks, said the company had held local consultation events and would organise more.

Once all the views were in, it would attempt to take on board as many as possible in putting together its proposal, he said.

Mr Dyke said the development, if approved, would be the North-East's biggest on-land windfarm and would make a significant contribution to the Government's targets for renewable energy.

A spokesman for EDF Energy said the company was investigating longer-term measures, such as wave power, but that in the shorter term windfarms were most likely to meet the UK's renewable energy targets.

He said the company's five proposed North-East on-land windfarms would generate power for 22,953 homes and stop 85,770 tonnes of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide being emitted each year.

He said EDF was putting together an environmental assessment for its North-East projects and would take protestors' comments into account.