EAST Lancashire MPs have formed a cross party alliance to demand an immediate ban on the building of wind farms in the area while the government conducts a proper review of policy regarding the controversial form of alternative energy.

They are to press ministers to produce new guidelines aimed at preventing the siting of the giant turbines in areas of natural beauty.

Their action follows alarm over existing and planned wind farms at Cliviger in Peter Pike's Burnley constituency and new proposals to erect them at Chipping and in the shadow of Pendle Hill at Blacko.

Yesterday Ribble Valley Tory MP Nigel Evans raised the problems in East Lancashire in the Commons after a government minister gave the first hint that policy towards the windmills might be hardening.

Industry Minister Kim Howels was asked about how the government was to meet its target of raising 10 per cent of electricity from alternative sources.

He told the Commons: "If that means covering Wales in windmills, I, for one will not have it."

Mr Evans asked Leader of the Commons Margaret Beckett for an debate and said: "An application is pending for 15 wind turbines that will stretch from Pendle into the Ribble Valley, which is an area of outstanding natural beauty which attracts tourists and is used largely for agriculture." Mrs Beckett suggested that he organised a special debate on the issue and said she would draw his concerns to relevant ministers.

Mr Evans is now writing to those ministers calling for a review and a ban on new turbines -- a move supported by Labour MPs Mr Pike, Gordon Prentice and Janet Anderson.

Mr Evans said: "I want an immediate ban on the building of any more wind farms while the government has a proper review of policy regarding.

"They are very unsightly and are ruining beautiful countryside. Some are up to 200-feet high and they can cause when the sun is behind them a condition called flicker, which can drive people to have fits."

Mr Prentice said: "I would support Mr Evans. I do not want to see wind farms built in inappropriate places, particularly beautiful countryside in East Lancashire."

Mr Pike said he was concerned at the Cliviger wind farm and would support any move to review policy and stop any more.

Rossendale and Darwen MP and Film Minister Janet Anderson said: "I am very concerned about the effect wind farms have on the landscape. There was a great deal of worry among my constituents when it was proposed to put one on the Darwen moors."

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