Villagers affected by plans to build four 420-foot wind turbines near Lichfield have teamed up to fight the scheme.
German company Prowind have submitted a full planning application to Lichfield District Council for the turbines, despite opposition from local residents.
A packed meeting on Saturday (July 3) saw 200 people from Haunton, Harlaston, Thorpe Constantine and Clifton Campville gather to step up their opposition to the proposal.
Staffordshire County Councillor Matthew Ellis (Cons, Lichfield Rural East) said:
“Feelings are clearly that this proposal will change the character of the Mease and Tame landscape for ever. These structures would indeed be massive at just one metre shorter than the largest onshore wind turbine ever built in the UK. Whatever the differing views as to the merits of onshore wind power, the local community are adamant that the development site chosen by ProWind would be catastrophic for the area and people that live there.”
More than 500 people have signed up to the website opposing the development.
And Clifton Parish Council chairman, Cllr David Lodge, claimed residents were more determined than ever to fight the scheme. He said:
“We are appalled that this could be imposed upon us against the clear wishes of the community. And the company are unwilling to discuss this in detail with us. They’ve held a brief exhibition but even that was felt by people attending to be skewed in favour of the proposals whilst even the maps and illustrations they’ve produced hide the homes nearest to the wind turbines under the map legend. We feel a community under siege.”
People can have their say on the proposals via Lichfield District Council’s planning website.
