SPECULATION that windfarms may be built amid scenic landscape near Tebay is "very, very premature", says an energy expert.

West Coast Energy is to build a 50-metre mast on Bretherdale Common, west of Tebay, this autumn to measure wind speed and direction, to see whether the area would be suitable for wind turbines.

Country Guardian - the national campaign against commercial windfarms - believes large, powerful turbines could be in the pipeline for Whinfell Common and Bretherdale.

However, Stephen Salt, of West Coast Energy, told the Gazette it was still "very early days."

He said research into wind patterns was continuing, and there were no firm plans for windfarms in the area.

West Coast Energy - which is based in Mold, Wales - works with electricity, minerals and renewable energy companies.

For at least three years, it has been collecting wind data near Tebay and Grayrigg with wind-measuring masts on Whin Ash and Whinfell Common.

The new 50-metre mast has been approved by Eden District Council for five years.

It will help the company to gather even more information.

Belinda Lancing, the South Lakes representative for Country Guardian, said it had been believed that up to 76 turbines were in the pipeline for Bretherdale, and 80 for Whinfell.

However, it was now thought that fewer - but much taller and more powerful - turbines could be built.

The information is from Country Guardian's regularly updated 'red booklet' which collates information about windfarm plans.

Miss Lancing said the pleasure of climbing fells would be ruined by looking down upon "a vast sea of these dreadful objects" (turbines), and the glinting of sunlight on the blades "would be horrendous, like strobe lighting."

Wind energy was "just one potential" in a range of environmentally friendly renewable sources which would not "desecrate" the landscape, she said.

Miss Lancing is also secretary of pressure group FELLS - which opposes the siting of wind turbines where they will spoil the scenery of Eden, Lakeland and Lunesdale.

FELLS would also oppose turbines on the fells around Tebay.

However, Stephen Salt, planning and development manager for West Coast Energy, told the Gazette: "It's very, very premature to say there are going to be turbines put up in the Tebay area.

"We are just looking at the wind resources.

We are doing that for a company called the Renewable Energy Company."

He explained: "We are looking at a lot of sites throughout the country, to try to meet Government targets for production of renewable energy, particularly from wind.

This area is one we've identified which has particular characteristics which may be suitable for generation of electricity by wind."

The site was windy and, although it was an important local landscape, it was not within the Lake District National Park, said Mr Salt.

If the site proved suitable, the company would consult closely with interest groups, local people and councils to develop windfarm plans.

"We certainly do appreciate that people can be concerned about any impact the turbines have.

Windfarms do generate a lot of controversy, there's no doubt about that," said Mr Salt.

"The visual side is something people are perhaps concerned about.

Certainly they also bring economic benefits to the area and provide clean electricity.

It's a question of trying to balance that out through the planning process."

Ian Brodie, secretary of Friends of the Lake District, believes "a huge number" of turbines could be planned for Whinfell and Bretherdale, which he described as "some of the most superb bits of Westmorland landscape".

"This will be one of the most damaging proposals that South Lakeland and Eden district councils will have to consider," he said.

At present, just over two per cent of Britain's electricity is generated by renewable sources such as wind and hydro power.

The Government wants to increase that to ten per cent by 2010, to help reduce greenhouse gases.