VILLAGERS in West Huntspill say two proposed wind farms in the area pose a real threat to wildlife.

The West Huntspill Action Group is opposing Ecotricity’s plans for five turbines in the Black Ditch area of West Huntspill, and EDF Energy Renewables’ proposals for five turbines in Withy End Farm, near East Huntspill.

At a recent meeting, the group was shown video footage of a bird being killed by moving blades.

The action group’s communications officer, Julie Trott, said: “These innocent creatures cannot perceive the movement of the blades and consequently wind turbines are always going to be invisible to the innocent creatures that use the sky as their natural place.”

She fears industrial sized turbines will dominate the landscape and have a harmful environmental impact at East Huntspill, West Huntspill, Woolavington, Puriton and Pawlett.

She said: “The proposed Huntspill wind farms are to be situated directly on the flight path of birds migrating between the Somerset Levels and the Bristol Channel.

“The danger posed to these birds has to be significant.”

EDF, which had originally proposed nine turbines at Withy End, said it had carried out a full environmental impact assessment of its proposed wind farm and denied there would be a significant effect on birds.

A spokesman said: “Following our extensive public consultation and environmental and engineering studies of the site, including a detailed landscape and visual assessment, we reviewed carefully all local comments received.”