CHANGES announced by the Government to its policy on wind turbines has been welcomed this week by West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox.

The MP has been campaigning for the changes at Westminster, which he believes will give people a much greater say over wind farms in their communities and enable local councils to refuse planning applications without the risk of being overturned by planning inspectors.

In March the MP declared his opposition to any more wind farms, saying the speed of unspoilt rural landscape being turned into a renewable energy landscape was 'frightening'.

His concerns comes at a time, says Mr Cox, when an increasong number of local authorities were more reluctant to oppose such applications as many previous cases had been lost on appeal, at expense to the taxpayer.

The new planning guidance announced by the Department of Communities and Local Government will make clear that the need for renewable energy does not automatically override environmental protections and the planning concerns of local communities. Instead, it will give far greater weight to landscape and visual impact concerns, especially for heritage sites.

The guidance urges the law to be changed and make consultation with local communities compulsory for the more significant onshore wind projects, before planning permission is applied for. This will guarantee that local people can have their say at an earlier stage in more cases.

In addition, where local councils have identified areas suitable for wind farm projects they will not be obliged to give planning permission if they think the impact on the local area will be unacceptable.

Backing the proposed guidelines Mr Cox told the Times: 'The new guidance means that communities will have a decisive say.

'It will restore the balance between developers, planning authorities and local communities.

'As a result, local people will no longer be forced into having wind farms within their community, which threaten their tranquillity, peace of mind and quality of life. However, this is a welcome first step. We must remain vigilant and more may have to be done if the desired outcome is not achieved.'