The West Ancroft proposal, by E.ON, for eight turbines, 115m in height, is open for consultation, with the six week period for people to make their views known running almost concurrently with the conjoined public inquiry into the Toft Hill, Barmoor and Moorsyde appeals.

Ian Corsie, a founding member of West Ancroft Community Action (WACA) told the Advertiser: "There is not much local people can do about the inquiry now except turn up and take an interest, but there is really something they can do about West Ancroft, by picking up a pen and writing, or going online to the county council's site, and objecting to the proposal.

"We mustn't let West Ancroft be sidelined," he added.

"The key thing is to raise the profile and the fact that there are only a few shorts weeks to put in objections."

The application by E.ON has been taken on by the central planning team at Northumberland County Council, and will be decided upon initially by the central planning committee due to the scale of the proposal.

Only one former Berwick councillor, Coun Dougie Watkin, is on the central planning committee.

Mr Corsie said: "The main thing is to get people to write in, and another very important aspect is the parish councils now.

"Because there is no Berwick Borough Council, they constitute a vital local link, so what they say in response to the application will carry a lot of weight," he explained.

"The application has gone to six parish councils for consultation - Ancroft, Kyloe, Bowsden, Duddo, Shoresdean and Ord - but we are also trying to encourage Lowick, Holy Island and Norham parish councils to take an interest.

"If you drive off Holy Island and look absolutely straight ahead you will see exactly where the West Ancroft turbines would be, and you can already see the Black Hill turbines from there."

Commenting on the reduction in height of the proposed turbines from 125m to 115m by E.ON, Mr Corsie said: "I expect they always planned to reduce the height. It seems a common thing that happens."

All along, WACA members have supported the three main groups fighting the conjoined inquiry, and Mr Corsie is under no illusions that the outcome of that inquiry could have a huge impact on any decision on the West Ancroft application.

He said: "The thing we keep saying is that these are coming to a field near you. First there was one application, then two, and now four, and we know an application at Murton is in the pipeline. It is a creeping process.

"Once one goes up, the landscape is compromised and so it's much easier for others to go up after that."

Mr Corsie added: "The effect of the proposed turbines on local tourism is very difficult to prove in planning terms and we particularly need those who run bed and breakfasts, pubs, caravan parks and the like to make their voices heard. What counts is the individual comments from these people."

WACA's website, www.waca.uk.net is now online, and the public can comment on the West Ancroft proposal via the county council's e-consultation hub at http://planning.northumberland.gov.uk/PublicAccess, where the full application can also be viewed, or in writing.
The application can also be viewed at the council offices in Berwick.