I PAID a visit to New Brighton’s Floral Pavilion to view the consultation plans for the proposed extension of the Burbo Bank offshore windfarm and while the event was well managed and professional, I was disappointed with the glossy leaflet that I took away with me.

True, it did explain the consultation process but, I thought they might have explained the actual need to expand the current windfarm, the construction costs and how such a scheme is supposed to benefit us.

In fact, what they did not mention is windfarms along with their turbines are hopelessly ineffectual.

The wind does not always blow, therefore the amount of electricity they produce is derisory and huge costs construction and operational costs vastly increase the price of electricity.

In 2008 the UK had 2,300 turbines operating, covering hundreds of miles of countryside and sea, the amount they produced was just 600 megawatts, which was less than a single conventional power station.

This pattern was confirmed on Chris Huhne’s department website for 2009.

The real reason that we are having to build these eyesores on the land and at sea are the reduced carbon and greenhouse gasses directives from the EU.

These will increase taxation, benefit the energy sector by the huge subsidies that they receive to build these windfarms and disadvantage the rest of us and our businesses by the excessive rises we will pay for electricity.

Our beleaguered energy and climate secretary, Chris Huhne has just committed the UK up to the most comprehensive climate change plan in the world, to half greenhouse gases by 2025.

To deliver this commitment our lives will change dramatically, and not for the better, I will spare you the details.

But, just remember wind farm supporters that conventional power stations will still need to keep running to ensure our lights don’t go out – the wind doesn’t always blow.

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Philip Griffiths, North West Chairman UK Independence Party