PLANS to erect two wind turbines on site at Teesdale's largest employer are on the cards in a bid to produce pollution-free electricity, the D&S Times can reveal.

Pharmaceutical multinational GlaxoSmithKline is looking at the feasibility of building the 45m-high turbines at its Harmire Road factory in Barnard Castle as part of its partnership with the Teesdale Renewable Energy Challenge.

Spokesman Phil Brown said GSK had been part of the challenge since its inception and one of the things to come from the deliberations was the opportunity to put a couple of turbines at the plant.

"We are looking at the feasibility of it," he said. "But ahead of applying for planning permission, we have written to our neighbours in an open letter about which they are free to respond.

"We will also be manning a stand at Trec's exhibition at the Witham Hall on Wednesday, which will be followed by a public meeting at 5pm," he added. "There will be a number of photographic montage shots, with scale models of the turbines superimposed, so people can get a flavour of what they will look like. If people want to bring their concerns along, there will be someone there to answer them."

Mr Brown said that, assuming the planning application went ahead, it would be submitted by another Trec partner; an expert on wind turbines.

"Things are at a relatively early stage," he added. "But if the feasibility study works out, we would like to get moving with the application."

Describing the turbines, Mr Brown said the columns were 30m high - similar in height to electricity pylons in the vicinity. But the total height to the tip of the blade, when vertical, would be 45m. Standing in Harmire Road and looking at C Block, the turbines will be situated between the left of the buildings and the site's northern boundary, where the land falls away.

"Visually, there will be relatively little impact," he added.

"We have taken measurements at the bottom of towers and the noise is probably less than a domestic extractor fan," he added.

If the turbines received the go ahead they would save the company an average of 4pc a year in electricity usage.

"That is equivalent to running all our computers on site, and we are computer heavy here," said Mr Brown. "However, when going at full capacity, they would meet 10pc of electricity usage."

Wednesday's exhibition and public meeting will also report on other renewable energy proposals for Teesdale.