Proposed giant wind turbines in north Shropshire would have “significant and adverse” environmental impacts on the surrounding landscape, amenity and land uses, a planning expert has claimed.

And the “relatively small” amount of additional power likely to be produced by the scheme at Lower Farm, Bearstone, near Market Drayton, is considered insufficient to outweigh the environmental harm which would result if it is constructed.

Planning expert Peter Kendall said appeals launched by energy giant Nuon Renewables after plans to site seven turbines at Lower Farm were refused, should be dismissed.

He was giving evidence on behalf of the Veto on Rural Turbine Expansion group at a planning appeal at Woore Victory Hall yesterday.

Mr Kendall said there would also be impacts on the aspirations of local people for their area, its economy and environment.

He said: “Those aspirations, and the marketability of new enterprises, would be damaged by the overbearing visual intrusion of the proposed turbines in this attractive and interesting landscape.”

Mr Kendall said while it was accepted that government energy policy favoured electricity from renewable resources, the Government did not specify that it must be derived from the wind.

He said regional and county policy documents indicated that the environment imposes practical constraints on the development of wind power. They place emphasis on other renewable energy sources, he said.

“Policies relating to development in the West Midlands, be they national, regional or local, refer to the need for new development to fit in with and where possible enhance the important characteristics of the environment,” he added.

“A wind farm of this scale at this location cannot comply with those policies or with the wider aims, objectives, and vision for the environment which underlies them.”

By Deborah Collins