I AM outraged at the way in which a proposal for a tenturbine wind farm, each one being almost 400ft high and very close to the village of Great Stainton, has been handled by Durham County Council.

Apparently, since we are not in the catchment area for that authority, there is no legal obligation for the residents to be consulted, advised, or kept informed of progress on a development which would, if it goes ahead, have a huge detrimental impact on the village, the landscape and even perhaps the health of those closest to it.

Surely, courtesy alone should have been the order of the day.

Had it not been for the vigilance of one of two parishioners we might never have known anything about it until it was too late.

The energy company held exhibitions in Sedgefield, Mordon and Stillington, but not in Great Stainton. This is most unacceptable.

I have also heard the village is threatened with an 11-turbine wind farm approximately two miles to the south at East and West Newbiggin, and a further ten-turbine wind farm about one and a half miles to the west of Moorhouse.

Enough is enough. I am given to understand that County Durham has already achieved its renewable energy target.

Patricia Denham, Great Stainton, near Darlington.

AMID all the furore about wind turbines (Echo, June 5), I must admit to having quite liked them when they first put in an appearance round here.

That was years ago, however, when there were only a few. Now, there’s an epidemic of the things. Far from providing a bit of scenic novelty, they’ve become an eyesore.

What’s more, they interfere with TV reception down here in Crook, and they’re a danger to night-flying birds.

All for what? No way can they substitute for conventional power sources, only nuclear reactors can do that (as advocated by leading environmentalists).

Needless to say, the cost – in terms of millions of pounds in subsidies to private firms – falls on us, the taxpayers. Yet another case of administrative gimmickry, extravagance and waste.

Tony Kelly, Crook, Co Durham.