THIS is a challenge to the cowards responsible for the leaflet against the Severndale turbine to come forward and tell everyone who they are.

If they feel that they have justified arguments, why circulate it anonymously?

It's a fact that some people don't like to see a wind turbine in their locality.

Personally I think that they enhance a landscape, but obviously that is a matter of personal preference.

However, there is no doubt that by contributing 'green energy' every wind turbine reduces pollution and global warming, thereby benefitting us all.

Regarding the Severndale Turbine, of specific local benefit is that four per cent of turnover would be donated by the operational project to community initiatives.

In fact, the Resilience Centre community approach was 'best community initiative' at the prestigious annual Green Energy awards and also won best community based energy project in north-west Europe.

The anonymous leaflet states that the directors of The Resilience Centre would be the only ones to benefit financially from the Severndale turbine whereas, in fact, the project would be funded via shares in a community benefit society that will own the project.

The anonymous leaflet claims, in highly emotive language, that the wind turbine would reduce house prices.

This has not been the case in St Briavels, where property prices have increased 14 per cent since the Great Dunkilns wind turbine has become operational, whereas the average increase for the Forest of Dean is 10 per cent.

Anyone can go to St Briavels and ascertain for themselves about noise or any other concerns that they may have.

Besides an annual open day, groups can arrange access by request and there is a public footpath relatively close to the turbine.

The anonymous leaflet is a vicious personal attack on directors Sue and Andrew Clarke, who work all hours to further their vision of community-owned energy which is shared by many local people.

The leaflet even has a photograph of them with an insulting caption.

Presumably the authors realise that it is libel to print lies and are afraid that they may be sued.

If these cowards don't identify themselves and take responsibility for their defamatory comments then that is essentially proof that their leaflet is nothing more than a pack of slanderous lies.

– Nicky Packer, Cinderford.