Turbines scheme blown off course

Officials at South Holland District Council support the wind farm, but councillors on a development control committee have voted 10-1 against the scheme.

They said at a meeting on Wednesday evening that the turbines will be "a blot on the landscape".

But the farmer who owns the land near Deeping St James argues that it will help the economy and produce clean energy.

'Monstrosities'

"They say it will mar the landscape, but they didn't think about the rape of the planet in the search for energy sources," farmer Nicholas Watts said.

The eight turbines are all expected to be more than 300 feet tall - higher than Big Ben in London.

Local opponents have long argued the wind farm would affect property prices and spoil the views in the rural area near Spalding.

Local resident Delia Williams, who opposes the plans, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to bits that it has been turned down."

"They don't need to build these monstrosities that will ruin the view and create a noise that can be heard four miles away," Mrs Williams said.

"They could place then offshore or somewhere, but that is too expensive for them."

Concerns were also voiced at the meeting about the cost of dismantling the turbines if the project failed to make a profit.

A final decision will be made after further reports, but the vote is a blow to the project proposed by the firm Wind Prospects.