FIVE new wind turbines look set to be built on the outskirts of March. A recommendation from Nigel Brown, Fenland District Council s planning delivery manager, says the scheme is a natural extension to a neighbouring wind farm. It will make a significa

FIVE new wind turbines look set to be built on the outskirts of March.

A recommendation from Nigel Brown, Fenland District Council's planning delivery manager, says the scheme is a "natural extension" to a neighbouring wind farm.

"It will make a significant contribution to renewable energy," Mr Brown will tell members of Fenland District Council Planning Committee next Wednesday.

His endorsement of the scheme comes in the wake of objections from town and parish councillors and local residents.

The scheme, proposed on land off Knights End Road, March, has been opposed by both March Town Council and Doddington Parish Council.

Twenty eight letters of objection have been sent to Fenland District Council by residents along with four letters of support for the application by Ecogen Ltd.

The plan is to site the five turbines with a hub height of 69 metres and a maximum overall height of 110 metres to the blade tip on land south of Lodge Farm and Boardinghouse Farm, with access from Knights End Road.

March Town Council says there are too many wind turbines already approved within Fenland and Doddington Parish Council objects on the grounds of impact on existing road conditions and the visual effect. It wants an assessment to be undertaken to consider the impact on bird life.

Residents claim the turbines would lead to a loss of property value, noise, impact on landscape, wildlife, and views, and that there are already too many turbines within Fenland.

Mr Brown says: "Careful consideration has been given to the potential impacts in terms of biodiversity, landscape, visual impacts and other matters.

"The proposed scheme is considered to be in accordance with adopted planning policy, national planning policy relating to renewable energy and the Wind Turbine Development Policy Guidance for Fenland."

PANELS

GREENVALE are considering putting a wind turbine on land to the north of their factory at Floods Ferry Road, Doddington. Preliminary soundings are now being made of Fenland Council.

A MINI wind farm is also being proposed at Treading Field, Treading Drain, Tydd St Giles. Again preliminary studies, including the erection of a 70 metre high meteorological mast to test wind conditions, are being discussed with Fenland planners.