Opposition to 140ft wind turbine

The proposed wind turbine would be located near Bath

A Bath businessman proposing to build a 140ft (43m) high wind turbine on the outskirts of Bath, has been met with opposition.

Andy Ridings, who runs a waste recycling business, will put forward the proposal to the Bath and North East Somerset council on Wednesday.

Mr Ridings said: "A wind turbine would benefit all the residents of Bath."

But the Bath Preservation Trust described the proposal as "the wrong project in the wrong place".

Mr Ridings said: "We think that our wind turbine would be a relatively small but significantly contribution to renewables."

He added: "Bath and North East Somerset contribute no renewable energies to the national effort at all."

Caroline Kay, Bath Preservation Trust chief executive, said: "Our objections to this are the same as to any wind turbine that is out on the edge and the entry to the World Heritage site.

"We don't think the hills immediately around Bath are an appropriate site for a wind turbine.

"If wind turbines are going to play a part in energy generation in this immediate area, they are going to have to look further away from the city.

"This is simply the wrong project in the wrong place."