There is a lot of sympathy in Oxford for the development of wind farms as an eco-friendly way of generating electricity.

Some, including ourselves, wonder whether a historic city like Oxford is an appropriate location for wind farms. Others doubt whether wind turbines are an effective way to supply electricity at all.

Given the sensitivity, particularly over location, you would think that the city council would adopt a softly softly approach to proposals for new wind turbines.

Instead, in its plans first for Horspath and this week for Cutteslowe Park, the proposals have come as a surprise to local residents. True, the general locations have been suggested before in council reports, but there has been no real consultation.

Cutteslowe Park, in particular, is a treasured area of green space for Oxford residents and one would have thought that the Friends of Cutteslowe Park group and nearby residents would at least have had some warning that this proposal was going to be made.