A meeting to discuss installing Shropshire’s tallest wind mast on land near Market Drayton will take place next week.

More than 100 campaigners opposed to a 60-metre mast being put on land near Norton-in-Hales attended a meeting in Market Drayton last week.

But district councillors put off their decision as they wanted to see the site first.

North Shropshire District Council spokeswoman Rian Bentley today confirmed a site visit had been agreed for March 7.

She said councillors would head to land at Lower Farm, Bearstone Road, where energy company Nuon Renewables wants to put the temporary mast. The plans will then be discussed at the Festival Drayton Centre, Market Drayton, at 2pm.

Protest group Veto on Rural Turbine Expansion, and others opponents fear approval would pave the way for an application for nine 110-metre turbines between Woore and Loggerheads.

A Vortex spokeswoman said they found out about the new meeting yesterday and hoped people would turn out in force.

She said: “We will be there again with banners and placards and hope to have as many people there as we can muster.

“We are all still very much against the scheme.”

Nuon has to install the mast to assess wind speeds in the area before deciding if it should apply for a wind farm, which would form a separate application.

A previous report from planning officers has recommended the temporary mast for approval.

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