Wind turbines don’t ruin landscapes, they can be quite graceful - Yorkshire Post Letters

I’ve recently returned from cycling from Land’s End to John O Groats. It reminded me of the beauty and extraordinary diversity of Great Britain. During the journey from Cornwall to Caithness, in several locations, I saw wind turbines at work.

Contrary to the opinions of some, I found that they didn’t ruin landscapes and indeed their statuesque profiles were actually quite graceful. I passed very close to active turbines in Sutherland. Yes I could hear some noise, but it was pretty minimal.

I entirely endorse the fact that appropriate siting of turbines is crucial and for instance must not include national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty. Contrary to the nay-sayers claims about risks to birds, the RSPB supports appropriately located wind farms. With these provisos, expansion of on-shore wind power is an essential component both to reduce carbon emissions and to avoid the recent wild fluctuations in energy prices driven by our dependence on fossil fuels.

It’s increasingly clear that some of the opponents are motivated, not by aesthetic or environmental concerns, but by acting as a mouthpiece for the fossil fuel industry.

Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Nigel Farage has been consistently scathing about the benefits of wind farms. It’s revealing that over two thirds of Reform UK’s funding, amounting to £24m, has come from donors with financial interests in oil and gas. Does anyone really believe that has no bearing on Farage’s negativity about wind farms?

I was extraordinarily lucky with the timing of my bike ride in that the weather was cool. The record temperatures soon after my return and another heat wave now in progress further emphasise the urgency of eliminating fossil fuel use and that the hypocrisy of those like Farage needs to be unequivocally called out.