OPPONENTS of the plan to build a wind turbine on land at Horage Farm, north of Lydney, have dismissed the Lydney Area in Partnership group as a failed quango without benefit to local people. The group, meanwhile, is exploring other sites as alternative energy sources, including solar power.

In a statement to the Review last week, members of the Lydney and West Dean Windfarm Action Group claimed a recent meeting of the Partnership ended in chaos when nine people walked out.

Among them was Cllr Alan Preest, newly appointed to the Partnership as the Forest of Dean District Council's replacement for Cllr Marian Winship who has· been censured after being found in breach of the members' code of conduct for failing to declare an interest in a Partnership planning application for a wind testing mast.

Cllr Preest said later that he had been appalled at the lack of transparency and the absence of elected town and district councillors.

The statement said the nine who left the meeting had done so in response to the refusal of Cllr Derek Biddle to reveal the location of alternative sites for turbines. He had confirmed that his group had dropped the Horage Farm project and that a consultancy, Green Wind Trust, were in negotiations with two farms for exclusive access to sites. However, because of commercial sensitivities, he could not reveal more detail.

Partnership shareholder Joyce Waldegrave said it was appalling they had not been given full and open answers.

"LAiP have no mandate for this project. Cllr Biddle claimed to have 70 supporters. Where were they? The treasurer's report, circulated before the meeting, tells the sad truth," she said.

Mrs Waldegrave added: "I am concerned that Cllr Biddle is in secret talks about two wind turbine sites on farms. I have met with Green Wind Trust, the company they are working with, who assured me that the Horage Farm site had been ruled out and that no other sites had been identified. They also seemed to be interested in a solar power development that would be much more acceptable," she said.

The Action Group will be presenting a petition to the council this week calling on members to note the significant opposition of the surrounding community to the erection of large commercial scale wind turbines on any site adjacent to Neds Top, Oldcroft, Yorkley, Driffield Road and North Lydney.

Cllr Preest is also to ask the council this week to record the "significant opposition" to the wind turbine proposal and to request the leader of the council to write to Lydney Area in Partnership asking them to recognise the opposition and confirm that the Horage Farm site is not a suitable location for a wind farm. He is also asking the council to request LAiP to undertake a full public consultation in considering any alternative proposal.

Cllr Biddle said nine people had left the meeting after a proposition to object to turbines had been ruled out of order. The meeting had continued as normal.

Cllr Biddle confirmed it did not appear that the Horage Farm site would be suitable and that other sites were being explored. Solar power was also an option, either on buildings or in fields of low agricultural value and a meeting to discuss ideas was being planned for later in December.

He said the list of those who supported turbines was available at the meeting.

"Many of them are prepared to invest in the project. I regret to say that nimbyism is at the centre of this. They claim not to be against green energy but do not want it where they live," he said.