Wind farm proposal inquiry begins

Campaigners are "confident" the inquiry will go their way

A public inquiry into plans for a wind farm in the south Cambridgeshire countryside is due to begin.

The company, Your Energy, wants to build 15 turbines, each with an overall height of 330 feet (100m), on land between Boxworth and Connington.

The plans, unveiled 18 months ago, met with fierce opposition from residents.

South Cambridgeshire District Council turned down the original application, but Your Energy appealed. The inquiry is expected to last three weeks.

'Tested twice'

Local people objected to the plans, arguing the development would have a huge impact on the landscape, would create noise problems and distract drivers on the nearby A14.

Mike Barnard, from the Stop Cambridge Wind Farm Group, said they were confident the public inquiry would go their way.

"The decision has been tested twice already in the planning officers refusal and the councillors turned it down 28 to nil, so in a sense our arguments are solid," he said.

Richard Mardon, from Your Energy, said: "Eighty per cent of the population support wind farms and everyone knows we need to do something about climate change, so I think it's a vocal minority and obviously concerned locals (who object)."

Your Energy originally submitted plans for 16 turbines, but have reduced the number to 15.