Residents object to plans for large wind turbine

The wind turbine is about 50% taller than is allowed under local planning guideline

Local residents have objected to plans to build a 150m-tall (492ft) wind turbine near their homes.

The turbine could be built on land to the north of Tofts Road West in Hartlepool to provide renewable energy for local businesses.

People have objected to the turbine's construction on the grounds it is too tall, with Hartlepool Borough Council Conservative councillor Bob Buchan branding the scheme "detrimental to the landscape".

Melton Wind, the company behind the project, said the proposal would have no negative effect on the "amenity, landscape, ecology" of the area.

"The proposal would significantly contribute to local, regional and national efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and tackle the pressing issue of climate change," the firm said.

If approved, the turbine would be expected to produce up to 4.26 megawatts of electricity and operate for 30 years.

'Dominant development'

However, the planning application states the turbine will have a height of 149.9m (492ft) to the tip of its blade.

Under the Hartlepool Local Plan, wind turbines in the Brenda Road area are only allowed a maximum tip height of 99m (325ft), according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Buchan said the size of the turbine was a "complete disregard of the Town Plan".

His views were echoed in another objection by local resident Jamie Corbett.

"The turbine's scale and proximity to homes in Greatham, the Fens, Rossmere and Seaton Carew will negatively affect the amenity of residents, particularly in terms of visual intrusion and sense of place," Mr Corbett said.

"These are not industrial zones, they are residential communities and coastal villages where residents have a right to expect protection from such dominant development."

The proposals are expected to go before the council on 30 October.