THE firm bidding to site a windfarm on Oswaldtwistle Moor has been taken to task in a vote canvassing row.

Two green campaigners representing Energiekontor were moved on by the council’s town centre management team on Tuesday, after collecting signatures backing the application on Broadway.

The council outlaws what it considers to be commercial activities on the town centre’s main shopping thoroughfare.

Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: "There were two individuals canvassing staff on behalf of Energiekontor and this was brought to our attention on Tuesday. I’m pleased to say that the two individuals were moved on without delay.

"It’s to stop people being a nuisance, we used to have people sat there all the time stopping people when they were shopping. But there would have been nothing to stop them hiring a market stall."

Energiekontor project manager Chris Gainey said the two ‘Yes to Wind’ campaigners, from the Yorkshire area, had collected some 300 letters of support.

He said: "We did have a permit from the council on the Monday but that was, I understand, revoked by the council because they wanted two sides of the story put across. As soon as we were asked to move it wasn’t a problem and we moved straight away out of the pedestrian area."

He added: "Of those expressing an opinion, about 90 per cent were in favour. We got lots of positive feedback saying I hope you get on with it and get it built soon."

Hyndburn green charity the PROSPECTS Foundation has called for support for the application on environmental grounds.

The charity say it would use a £2.5m windfall donated by Energiekontor over 25 years to fund community projects throughout the borough.

Chairman Phil Barwood said: "It is our policy generally to support renewable energy and we have faith in the planning system to reach the correct decision on this planning application."

The windfarm bid will be voted on at a special meeting open to all Hyndburn councillors at Accrington Town Hall on March 2. But opposition leader Councillor Graham Jones has slammed the decision to schedule the meeting on a date when he is unavailable.

The Labour leader has also claimed that only opposition councillors with planning experience will be attending.

Councillor Britcliffe said: "We have extended this meeting to the full council now and the public will be able to speak for and against the windfarm. This decision will have to be reached within planning law.

"The public will have to notify us in advance if they wish to speak. We have done this to improve democratic accountability in Hyndburn. Windfarms are an issue that doesn't just affect a few residents."

He added: "There is a small but significant number of people who are against it but the majority of people who have spoken to me probably aren’t all that bothered, or certainly think it’s a good thing. I think we need to look at this application on its merits and I am listening to all the arguments."