The news that a six-turbine wind farm is being planned for a prominent site overlooking Lindley Wood Reservoir has got campaigners up in arms.

It is easy to understand their concerns. Firstly, of course, there is the matter of the visual impact such a new wind farm – whose 126.5 metre turbines and moor-top position would ensure that it is seen for miles around – would undoubtedly have.

Then there is the fact that the Lindley Moor proposal is just the latest of several pending wind farm schemes for a stretch of land west of Harrogate, and venturing into the Washburn Valley, that could result in a 42-turbine ‘cluster’. There is no question that a line of wind farms of such scale would alter the esteemed local landscape considerably.

But there is, of course, a bigger question to address here – about how we as an island are preparing to generate enough energy when fossil fuel supplies inevitably, though it may still be generations off, run out. And for many the visual pain of having to put up with wind farms in some of our most picturesque pieces of countryside may be a price worth paying if it is part of a successful, renewable energy policy. Wind power – on land, at least – has its detractors, and there are legitimate unanswered questions about how much wind farms actually can contribute to the national grid.

The only obvious alternative to the ‘renewables’ direction is nuclear energy, and the creation of more nuclear power stations. But it is hard to imagine that those campaigning so vociferously against wind power would be happy to see new fission reactors installed in their backyard – whether it be Wharfedale or beyond.

Roulette with lives

It’s hard to imagine any theft more reckless than that of cutting overhead power lines to steal metal.

Thieves are showing an unbelievably callous disregard for human life by targeting power lines in order to take copper cable. Last month Northern Powergrid revealed that two incidents had taken place in Ilkley and Arthington. This week they are trying to establish what brought power lines down in the Guiseley area.

Although theft is just one of the possible causes being investigated for the latest incident, it is clear that it is a growing problem, and one which could easily kill. In many cases thieves are cutting through cables carrying 11,000 volts – leaving the ends dangerously exposed.

Now Northern Powergrid is warning that lives are being put at serious risk. Last year the company suffered more than 600 incidents of theft on the electricity network in the North-East and Yorkshire.

In March 2011, a slip road onto the M62 had to be closed at Rothwell, when metal thieves caused power lines to fall onto the carriageway. In July 2011, metal thieves cut electricity cables in Castleford, possibly causing a gas explosion that wrecked a row of houses in the town.

In all these incidents thieves are playing Russian roulette with the lives of innocent people.

Northern Powergrid officials are appealing to anyone who sees anyone behaving suspiciously around power lines to contact the police.

It really is the case that one phone call could save someone’s life.