Sir - The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), Oxfordshire Branch, agrees with your editorial (February 1) that the precious Green Belt surrounding Oxford is no place for windfarms.
CPRE does not oppose wind farms and turbines in principle.
We believe that in every case the potential for electricity generation should be weighed against the impact on the landscape.
The plans to put 125m-tall generators on Green Belt land near Horspath and at Sandford would yield little in the way of power, whilst causing unacceptable environmental damage. Not only that, the essence of the Green Belt is its permanence. If one part is blighted, it opens the door to other parts being blighted too.
We want to see the right renewable technologies in the right places. But we need energy policies and city councils - that value and cherish our countryside, and protect, rather than harm, the Green Belt that has for 50 years secured the character of Oxford City and prevented the endless sprawl that has blighted many other cities in Britain. The city council's proposed development will do little to reduce global warming, or provide power for Oxford, whilst blighting one of Oxford's most valuable environmental and commercial assets. The Green Belt is no place for windfarms.
Helena Whall , Campaign Manager, Campaign to Protect Rural England Oxfordshire Branch
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