CAMPAIGNERS opposing a wind farm in the Berkeley Vale are launching their fightback with an exhibition portraying the ‘true impact’ of the turbines.

Members of the Save Berkeley Vale group, which opposes the application by green energy firm Ecotricity for four 120 metre high wind turbines near Stinchcombe, have organised an exhibition for people to see what they call the "true facts" about the wind turbines.

An application has been submitted to Stroud District Council for a wind farm between Stinchcombe and the A38 in farmland and objectors are being advised by the campaign group to register comments on the council’s website before October 11.

Save Berkeley Vale members believe that the most important point is to disprove the claims made by Dale Vince, owner of Ecotricity, that the turbines will generate enough electricity to power a quarter of homes in the Stroud district.

They plan to quash statistics quoted by the company for average wind speeds at the exhibition and instead display what they say are more "realistic" photomontages of what the turbines would look like in various places on the landscape.

Jack Sant, member of Save Berkeley Vale, said: "As far as the planning application is concerned we have serious reservations. Superficially it appears to provide comprehensive and objective justification for the four turbines but detailed examination shows important omissions.

"There is bias in the use of some of the background information which is claimed to support the various conclusions."

Mr Sant said they also have "serious concerns" about Ecotricity’s methods in collecting the data and he hoped the exhibition would give a better indication of the impact of the wind farm.

Ecotricity spokesman Mike Cheshire said: "The planning process here in the UK is quite rightly rigorous and comprehensive, with the aim of balancing national and local needs.

"It is these criteria that we work with to research and produce each of our wind park applications, and against which they are evaluated by the local council."

The Save Berkeley Vale exhibition will include large screens with moving images of the turbines and statistical information on wind power and wind speeds in Stinchcombe.

It is being held in Stinchcombe Village Hall on Thursday, September 30 from 6-9pm, Friday, October 1, from 6-9pm and Saturday, October 2 from 2-6pm.