A popular television personality has joined the fight against controversial plans for a windfarm on land near Market Drayton.

Professor David Bellamy OBE, said the proposed site at Lower Farm, Bearstone, for seven giant wind turbines is the most “ill conceived site” he has ever seen.

The author and botanist, who famously helped stop a windfarm being built in mid Wales on Blue Peter in 1996, said windfarms do not generate much extra electricity, and spoil the landscape.

He has spoken out against the proposals for the 110-metre high turbines by energy giant Nuon Renewables the day before a decision is due to be made by the devel- opment control committee at North Shropshire District Council.

Professor Bellamy said: “I’ve been campaigning against windfarms since 1996 because they are blots on the landscape and produce very little renewable energy and they have to be backed up all the time, so they really are useless. But this one has the added stupidity that there is not much wind there.

“They are noisy, they create shadow flicker, they kill birds, they kill bats and they reduce the quality of your houses. They are enormous – some of them are taller than Blackpool tower!

“This is one of the most costly ways of producing energy, and it is completely and utterly daft. This is a silly site, why spoil people’s livelihoods and lives, and a beautiful part of the countryside, for a very inefficient windfarm?” he said.

Councillors will make a decision on the windfarm at a planning meeting tomorrow at 6pm at the Grove School, Market Drayton.