Turbines proposal back on agenda

Controversial plans for a wind farm in Nottinghamshire are back on after previously being rejected by planners.

UK Coal wants to build turbines on an area between Bilsthorpe and Eakring near Newark to generate green energy.

But after a number of protests, planners rejected original plans for seven turbines in November 2006.

The energy company now wants to install five shorter turbines but villagers say they will be an eyesore and intend to fight the plans again.

'Detrimental effect'

Plans were originally rejected because of four objections, the major one being from the Ministry of Defence in Lincolnshire who said the turbines would interfere with their radar equipment.

UK Coal said this issue had been resolved by reducing the number of turbines and also their height but residents say they are yet to be convinced.

"We think it's just as bad as it was before," said Paul Doucet, a resident.

"The attitude of these people is somewhat supercilious when they say they they've overcome the objections.

"There were four major objections, the MoD being one of them but there were three others about the detrimental effect on the landscape around here and the impact on the conservation villages of Bilsthorpe and Eakring and on Rufford Abbey."

But Eric Adams from UK Coal said he thought the plans would go ahead. "Even with the five turbines and their new heights, the amount of energy they will produce still makes them financially viable."