A controversial wind mast on land near Market Drayton is being recommended for approval, despite nearly 400 local objections.Campaigners are fighting plans by Energy company Nuon Renewables to put the temporary 60m mast on land near Norton-in-Hales ahead of plans to develop a wind turbine farm near their homes.

But councillors are being urged by North Shropshire District Council planning chiefs to back the application.

A report to a meeting on Wednesday says despite nearly 400 residents and campaigners and five parish and borough councils being against the scheme, it should be granted planning permission.

The company needs to assess wind speeds before deciding if it should put in an application for nine 110-metre turbines on fields between Woore and Loggerheads.

People living near the site are so furious about the plans that their objections have forced a special meeting of the planning committee in Market Drayton, rather than its usual venue in Wem, to decide if the temporary meteorological mast should be allowed.

The report states: “There would be no significant detriment to visual or residential amenities or impact on protected species or sites.”

Conditions would also be in place to ensure the mast and equipment are removed and the site restored to its previous use within three years.

North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson and Macclesfield MP Sir Nicholas Winterton, who have both been contacted by worried constituents, have also written to the district council about the proposal.

The special meeting of the development control committee will take place at the Festival Drayton Centre, in Frogmore Road, at 2pm.