Villagers had their say about wind turbines when Herefordshire council planning officers attended parish council meeting

As reported in the Hereford Times last month, farmers Roger and Louise Thomas want to build the turbine on their land near Docklow to offset the cost of their business’s electricity.

But those living near the open countryside where the single triple-bladed 300 kilowatt turbine could be placed say it will be unsightly.

“It is a monstrous size and will draw your eye to it all the time,” said Clarissa Edwards whose home is just 700 metres from the site.

“It will be 30 per cent higher than Hereford Cathedral and is going to stick out like a sore thumb.”

Clarissa says there is nothing between her property and where the turbine would be erected to shield the visual impact.

“We would be happy if Mr Thomas downsized it because it will cast huge shadows.

“We are not against farmers wanting to diversify. But as it stands, it is going to be like an enormous sun dial and is just going to be in your face.”

She said the applicant had been round to explain his plans but she still has concerns, particularly over the noise.

“In such a tranquil place, the mechanical and aerodynamic noise will be out of place,” she added.

Another resident, Margaret Brown, who lives less than a mile away in Marston Stannett said: “ We object to a commercial wind turbine in a beautiful agricultural landscape.”

Villagers had the chance to have their say recently when a parish council meeting, attended by Herefordshire Council planning officers, saw many locals turn up.

Mr and Mrs Thomas were originally approached by two developers who wanted to rent their land and site four large turbines.

“We felt that such a large scheme would have a significant impact on the surrounding area so we decided to look into a much smaller scheme of a single turbine as a farm diversification project,”

said Mr Thomas.