WIND farm developers hope to lodge a planning application for turbines on an Eden fell within 12 months, reports Beth Broomby.

West Coast Energy Ltd is poised to begin a final round of tests before deciding whether to submit plans for turbines on land between Bretherdale Bank, near the A6, and Jeffrey's mount, off the M6, near Tebay.

The Flintshire-based renewable energy company has already completed a first round of wind speed assessments on the land, which is on the border of the Lake District National Park, but the foot-and-mouth outbreak held up progress over the last 12 months.

A 50 metre-high mast fitted with anemometry equipment will now be used to glean more detailed information about the quality and direction of wind at the site, enabling West Coast Energy to firm-up plans for the fell.

WCE Planning and development director Stephen Salt said: "The information will help us to evaluate whether the site is suitable to make an application to create renewable energy."

Mr Salt refused to give an indication of the size, scale or number of turbines planned for the site, but said the number would ultimately depend on the power of the generators used.

"We are looking at various different designs but it would be quite wrong of me at this stage to say whether we are talking about two or 100," he said.

Moves to build wind turbines on the site have provoked reaction from local groups.

Former director general of energy for the European Commission, Sir Christopher Audland, said he believed up to 37 100-metre-high turbines were being considered for the site.

"My personal view is that I have no doubt this is the most serious threat so far to the scenery of the Lake District.

Its impact on tourism would be serious.

I am very worried about it indeed."

Sir Christopher, outgoing chairman of Friends of Eden, Lakeland and Lunesdale Scenery, also raised concerns about evolving planning legislation which he believes could create loopholes in the law allowing decisions to be made without the benefit of a public inquiry.

Friends of the Lake District planning officer Graham Hale said FoLD would also be likely to oppose the plan on the grounds of impact on the landscape and the neighbouring National Park.

"We do not oppose all wind farms in the area - we take each one on its own merits," he said.

l In September 2000, five 43-metre-high towers, each supporting three 30-metre blades, went live above Lambrigg Fell.

Together they are capable of generating enough power to meet the needs of around 4,000 homes a year.