The Conservatives have criticised government moves to make it easier to build wind farms despite local objections.

Calling for a "national consensus" on renewable energy, the party called for a change to guidelines currently being put forward by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Shadow environment secretary Tim Yeo said that by making it easier for windfarms to gain planning permission, ministers were "turning thousands against " green power.

"Across Britain, a voice of protest is growing louder.  From Wales to my own constituency in Suffolk, local communities are angry at the way that wind farms are being foisted on them by this Labour government," said Yeo.

"The problem is going to get bigger. Under Labour's current plans, the number of wind turbines in the UK, will increase from 1,000 today to over 6,000 by 2010. Almost every area of the country will be affected."

The Tories said a planning policy currently being consulted on by the ODPM would see local councils given a duty to encourage renewable energy, creating "a presumption in favour of wind farms" and making it easier for developers to get a positive planning decision.

"Local opinion will be neutralised. The ultimate decision on appeal will reside with the secretary of state for trade and industry, the department that is accountable for national renewable energy targets," argued the party.

Yeo said the Conservatives would set out their own plans for a "more balanced and long term approach to renewable energy" later in the year.

But he warned that ministers had "bet everything on land based wind farms" and were excluding other technologies from the market.

"We do not believe that onshore wind should be the only show in town - we do not want to put all our eggs in one basket," he added.

"We will look at all types of renewable energy in order to find the best long term solution for Britain.

"As an island nation, why are we not doing more to harness power from wave and tide? 

"Could we not use our deep-sea expertise to take a lead in offshore wind?  Should we not do more to help farmers develop green energy from forestry and agriculture?"

Yeo added that Conservatives are not against wind farms but said they should be "sensitively located".

"We will oppose any planning guidance in relation to renewable energy that undermines the ability of local planners to take decisions on the basis of local opinion," he added.

"Government and developers have to make and win the case at both national and local level.

"Because we believe that consensus not coercion is the most sustainable approach."