Developers behind proposals for a wind farm in Shropshire are planning to challenge a decision by council chiefs to refuse the plans.

Representatives from Nuon Renewables, which has submitted a planning application for seven giant wind turbines at Bearstone, near Market Drayton, said they will appeal a decision by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council (NULBC) to give the plans the red light.

The council was consulted because an access road into the wind farm lies across the Shropshire border in Staffordshire.

Councillors decided to refuse the application on the grounds it would have a negative impact on highway safety, character and visual amenity and an adverse impact on the landscape.

North Shropshire District Council will make a decision on the windfarm part of the application on September 3.

Today, Al Hanagan, for Nuon, said: “The resolution ran counter to the recommendation of the officers and the councillors’ grounds for refusal were rather unclear and did not appear to fit the facts. Once Nuon has been issued with the reasons for refusal, an appeal will be lodged.”

Campaign group Vortex (Veto on Rural Turbine Expansion) have campaigned against the proposed windfarm.

North Shropshire District Council’s planning meeting takes place on September 3 at the Grove School in Market Drayton from 7pm.