RESIDENTS have vowed to fight plans for a 67-metre tall wind turbine on the outskirts of a village.

Villagers claim the turbine, proposed for a field near Eppleby, between Richmond and Darlington, will spoil the landscape and be a health risk.

Stephen Eastham, who is leading a campaign against the development, said residents feared other turbines would be erected on the site if this inital scheme was approved.

He said a Bill going through Parliament aimed to stop wind turbines of this size being built within 1.5km of homes, adding: “We’ve got properties within 580 metres which are going to be affected.

“It’s going to be a huge eyesore and there are concerns from a health point of view.

Research has shown that wind turbines emit low-frequencey noise, which can induce feelings of discomfort and nausea.”

The application for a single 500kw turbine has been submitted to Richmondshire District Council by applicant Paula Scott, from Barnard Castle, however the land is owned by farmer James Milbank, from Dalton, near Richmond.

Councillor Mick Griffiths said residents were unhappy that the landowner wanted to build a turbine on land several miles from his farm.

He added: “The question I would like answered is why does the landowner, who owns areas of the land where the council’s energy opportunity map shows much greater opportunity to put a very large and unsightly wind turbine, want to put it some significant distance from his address?”

Mrs Scott said energy generated by the turbine would be fed into the national grid.

She added: “It was a business opportunity that presented itself. We looked into it and have gone through the application criteria.

“The farmer is just utilising his assets, as I’m sure all farmers want to do.”

Mrs Scott pointed out that the country had set stringent targets for the amount of energy produced by renewable sources.

She added: “To meet those targets, sites for wind turbines have to be identified and applications put in.”

Residents have until October 11 to comment on the application.

A public meeting will be held to discuss the application in Eppleby Village Hall, today, at 8pm.