THE Shadow Secretary for the environment, food and rural affairs, Conservative MP David Lidington, recently met opponents to a proposed wind farm near Bradworthy in North Devon.

Campaigners against the plans to build three 75-metre high turbines told Mr Lidington wind farms should be located at least 1.5km from small clusters of houses, and 5km from larger settlements.

And they called for legal aid to be extended to claims against wind turbine sites deemed to be causing problems after they have been built.

Mr Lidington, whose visit was part of a two-day West Country tour, told the meeting in Bradworthy Village Hall: ?The question of how to get secure, clean and reliable energy supplies for this country is one that rarely gets much coverage, but is one of the most important that we face today.

?One of the things we are going to have to do as a country is move towards more renewable energy resources as fossil fuels are becoming depleted.

?There are also environmental imperatives to try to move towards cleaner energy.?

Mr Lidington was accompanied by Geoffrey Cox, the Conservative spokesman for Torridge and West Devon.

Mr Cox told the meeting: ?I believe there is not sufficient environmental gain to balance against the detriment and disadvantage they cause to those who live nearby.?

Speaking ahead of last week?s meeting with the Minister, Mr Cox said: ?David?s concern for the countryside is also why he is keen to meet and listen to the views of those who are fighting the many applications to erect gigantic wind turbines in our part of the world and across Devon, which appear neither to have the environmental benefits claimed for them nor to produce any general economic gain for the rural community.?