Defence officials block wind farms

The Ministry of Defence have been accused of shooting down Gordon Brown's plans for tackling global warming by opposing wind farms across Britain.

The MoD has opposed most of the proposals on the ground that they will interfere with air defence radar, and all have resulted in delays, permission being refused, public inquiries, or in one case the withdrawal of the planning application.

The MoD's opposition runs counter to the target set by the Prime Minister for Britain to produce up to 40 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020 to combat climate change.

A Commons written answer by the Defence minister Derek Twigg has revealed that the MoD has opposed 28 planning applications for wind farms between 2005 and 2007.

Harry Cohen, the Labour MP, who obtained the answer, said: "It just shows that one hand of the government doesn't know what the other is doing."

Most of the planning cases are still pending. They include Hare Hill in East Ayrshire, where the MoD objected to a wind farm on the ground that it would restrict low-flying training.