FEARS that eight 300ft wind turbines planned for North Yorkshire will ruin the view from Ilkley have been expressed by parish councillors.

Ilkley Parish Council's plans committee recently told Bradford Council it objected to the principle of constructing the turbines on the moors around Wharfedale. Now it fears plans to put up giant turbines on high ground at Felliscliffe, to the west of Harrogate, will be an eyesore to the people of Ilkley.

Power firm National Wind Power has given details to Harrogate Borough Council of its proposal to build a 'wind farm' close to the edge of the Nidderdale Area if Outstanding Natural Beauty, although no planning application has yet been submitted.

The company operates several wind farms - consisting of a number of turbines - around the country, which are used to generate electricity. The proposed Felliscliffe wind turbines are believed to be higher than any others in Yorkshire.

Ilkley Parish Council plans committee chairman, Councillor Audrey Brand, said: "It's going to be visible from Ilkley as well. We previously sent an objection to Bradford Council about their policy on wind turbines. We objected to them being located in National Parks, in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and also when it would have an effect on listed buildings."

She said the parish council is to send its feelings on to Harrogate Council about the proposed Felliscliffe mast.

National Wind Power currently owns and operates 14 wind farms in the UK, and

estimates that more than a quarter of the country's energy needs could eventually be provided by wind power from land-based wind turbines.

The plans committee recently told Bradford Council, during a Unitary Development Plan consultation, it would be against placing wind turbines on Ilkley Moor or elsewhere in the area. They claimed putting turbines in the area would affect the view from listed buildings such as the Grade One Listed Myddelton Lodge - which must be protected.

Coun Brand said putting up masts around the Ilkley landscape could prove harmful to the town's tourism. She is concerned that present Government policy, which encourages the use of 'renewable' energy sources, would not respect National Trust land or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. She said the nearest wind turbines to Ilkley, at the Chelker Reservoir, near Addingham, had already altered the landscape of Wharfedale.

A Harrogate Council spokeswoman

confirmed that a 'scoping opinion' application had been received by planning officers, who now have four weeks to look into issues

surrounding the proposed development before giving their opinions to the

applicant.

She said concerns such as any expressed by the parish council would be taken into account by planning officers when they

provided their response to National Wind Power's application. Views on the proposals can be sent to Harrogate Council. The firm may then put in a planning application, depending on the response obtained.

Harrogate Council confirmed that no planning application for the wind farm had yet been received.