An advertising watchdog has withdrawn its damning ruling over a wind farm protest leaflet and admitted it should never have investigated in the first place.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) had ruled a leaflet distributed by Fenland Landscape Against Turbines (FLAT) over a proposed wind farm in Marshland St James was misleading and untruthful.

West Norfolk borough councillor and wind farm opposer David Markinson forced an embarrassing U-turn on the ruling when he pointed out the investigation was outside of the ASA's authority because it was published ahead of a parish referendum on the turbines and was openly intended to influence the vote.

The ASA spent six months investigating a complaint over the leaflet – do you want wind turbines built on land within or surrounding Marshland St James? – but has now withdrawn its findings, issued last week.

ASA spokesman Olivia Campbell said: "It was a genuine and honest mistake."

The revelation is the latest in the bitter battle that has boiled since Marshland Windfarm's plans for 19 turbines first emerged in 2006.

In May 2007 an 85-metre test mast was felled and two weeks later a landowner involved in the scheme, Richard Herbert, tragically committed suicide as unrest over it mounted.

There have since been numerous claims from each side of attacks on their properties and public meetings over the plans have been called off or held with tight security because of a perceived risk of violence.

Marshland Windfarm, which is now finalising its formal application to Government for the wind farm, had claimed the ASA's ruling discredited the results of last October's referendum over the plans.

Following the ASA backtrack, Councillor Markinson said: "Three quarters of voters were firmly against the building of these turbines and they are not going to have their votes discredited by the Advertising Standards Authority or anyone else."

A statement issued by FLAT accused Marshland Windfarm of being responsible for the "waste of taxpayers' money spent on the investigation" by bringing the complaint.

Bruce Pittingale, spokesman for Marshland Windfarm, said: "Although the ASA has now ruled that the FLAT leaflet falls outside its jurisdiction the fact remains that the information was found to be and still is exaggerated, misleading and untruthful."

By Louise Brain, © Lynn News 19th Sept. 2008