Villagers angry at wind farm plan

Villagers in part of south Leicestershire are protesting at proposals to build a wind farm on land near Swinford.

Members of the Swinford and Walcote Windfarm Action Group claim the plan will damage the environment.

The protesters come from Swinford, Walcote and Cotesbach.

Harborough District Council is examining plans for eleven 410 ft wind turbines - the equivalent of eleven 40-storey buildings.

Dawn Money, 48, who lives on a farm just outside Walcote, said she would be able to see all the turbines from her house and they would only be 710 metres away.

Keith Kilbane, 65, also of Swinford, described the turbines as "a monument to stupidity" and said they would create a lasting impression on the landscape.

Energy company Nuon Renewables has put forward the plans.

Project manager Ben Gowers said the electricity generated by the Swinford Wind farm would meet the needs of 14,000 local homes every year.