OPPONENTS of a North Yorkshire wind farm have accused developers of providing planning officers with misleading evidence supporting their scheme.

Members of the Heslerton Wind Farm Action Group, said RWE npower renewables had hired a commercial lobbying group, Yes2Wind, to provide support for wind power in general, which has then been provided to a council as support of the Heslerton scheme.

Paul Stephens, from the protest group, said: “The activities of Yes2Wind are distorting the consultation phase of the planning process, which is intended to survey the views of people directly affected by this proposed development, rather than enable interested parties to channel generic support from across the district and well beyond.

“The group sincerely hopes that Ryedale District Council’s planning officers look with a sceptical eye at the origin of the supposed support for this scheme, received in writing as well as registered on the council’s website.”

Plans for the ten-turbine site were submitted to the council in March.

A spokeswoman for RWE npower renewables said the company had worked with Yes2Wind, to “promote and explain the East Heslerton proposals within the broader context of the need for renewable energy”.

She said: “Public consultation has identified there is a significant level of support for NRL’s proposals to develop a wind farm at East Heslerton, Yes2Wind has therefore sought to capture this support where possible.

“As a result, 230 members of the public have independently chosen to submit letters to support the development of a wind farm at East Heslerton to Ryedale District Council so their feedback can be taken into account.”

Last week, The Press reported the Ministry of Defence had claimed the 126-metre structures could affect radar at RAF Linton-on-Ouse.