Huge numbers of residents have objected to controversial plans for a new wind farm near Knighton. The issue will be settled at a meeting next month.Herefordshire County Council’s planning committee will discuss the issue on February 12, but the plans have already been criticised by councillors in neighbouring Powys.

The exact number of objections will not be revealed until reports are issued prior to the meeting, but objectors believe the figure could be as high as 1,400.

Planners will be asked to consider an application for four turbines at Reeves Hill, which would be sited on 3.8 hectares of land.

Each would have an installed capacity of 2.3 megawatts, creating enough electricity to supply about seven per cent of the homes in Herefordshire.

Today Sophie Andreae, chair of the Offa’s Dyke Association, in Knighton, said there had been a number of objections, including ones from Natural England, which was concerned about the potentially damaging effect on the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

She added: “There have been around 1,400 letters of objection, more than to any planning application ever received by Herefordshire.”

The plan follows on from news that Shropshire’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty could also be used for wind farms.

Phil Holden, who manages the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, said the Government needs to generate more electricity using sustainable sources. One option would be for AONB to site wind turbines on land exposed to the elements.