PLANS for a 67-metre high wind turbine at an organic dairy have led to objections from a parish council.

The casting vote of the chairman was needed when the controversial Acorn Dairy application was considered. It would be built at Garthorne Farm, Archdeacon Newton, near Darlington.

The dairy, which operates two farms, wants to install the turbine to provide one gigawatt of electricity each year.

It would make the farm, which operates a fleet of electric vehicles, self-sufficient for power.

Graham Tweddle, Acorn Dairy's director, said his customers, supermarkets and the Government were encouraging him to reduce his carbon footprint.

He told Archdeacon Newton Parish Council on Wednesday that careful consideration had been given to the proposed site so it would not interfere with wildlife and reduce the impact of "shadow-flicker" from the blades.

He said the dairy, which employs 31 people, also considered using other forms of renewable energy, but these were not practical.

The proposal received 35 positive comments in three hours at a recent consultation day about the application.

He said: "The overall message we got from local residents is that they are glad to see Acorn Dairy doing its bit to generate electricity.

"This is one turbine. We don't want to go down the route of being wind farmers, we're dairy farmers who want to generate electricity for our own use."

Mr Tweddle's application was backed by Darlington Friends of the Earth.

The charity's coordinator, Kendra Ullyart, told the council: "We fully support Acorn Dairy's wind farm proposal recognising the important part it can play in supporting sustainable business developments. This parish council can set an example to other councils across the country and beyond.

"There's a growing acceptance of the threat of climate change and the need to switch to a low carbon society."

Parish chairman Norman We lch said: "The windmills that the artist Constable painted can't be compared to a 67-metre high turbine."

Some residents spoke in favour of the application saying that the visual effect of turbines was better than the pollution and negative aspects of using fossil fuels.

However, others said that the turbine would ruin the landscape. Vernon Spinks, from Walworth Parish Council, which is also objecting to the plan, said: "We realise that there are energy issues but we feel that the turbine in the current location is not right."

Because three councillors voted in favour of the application and three against, Councillor We lch used his casting to recommend that the application be refused.

The application will be decided by the borough council's planning committee later this year.