CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed news that they can influence how £250,000 from a wind farm developer is spent to benefit those living near the site.

Banks Group, which has planning permission to erect four turbines near Stillington, between Stockton and Darlington, will pay £10,000 a year to the community for the 25 year lifetime of the scheme.

During public consultation about the plans, prior to their approval by Stockton Borough Council in 2011, residents believed the money would be paid into a community fund.

That money could then be used to support community projects or amenities, from sports clubs to community centres.

But the Lambs Hill Action Group (LHAG), which objected to the proposal, has recently called on the company to consider using the money to help neighbours of the wind farm reduce their utility bills.

They want to see a Local Electricity Discount (LED) scheme created so properties near Lambs Hill can get a discounted energy bills.

Tom Kirby, of LHAG, said: “The fund is a good joke, in 25 year's time it will equate to a fish and chip supper each year for the 1,500 in the vicinity so we’ll fight to put it to good use.

“I’ve surveyed those closest to the wind farm site and got close to 100 per cent support for a scheme that would reduce the cost of energy bills because it could benefit everyone.”

Work has yet to start on the 10mw Lambs Hill scheme, which will provide electricity to around 7,900 homes a year, with no construction start date set.

But the firm has promised that local people will be involved in spending the cash before it becomes operational.

Lewis Stokes, a development relations co-ordinator at Banks Group, has assured residents that local people will be recruited for a funding panel during construction of the wind farm.

They will then be asked to identify the current priorities and choose how the money should be spent to best aid the area.

He said: “The wind farm fund has been agreed at £10,000 a year for 25 years, we would never go back on that.

“The money will become available for the local community on day one of it is being built and operational.

“It will be local people, anyone with an interest, that decide on the priorities for the fund at the appropriate time and whether they want to support a Local Electricity Discount scheme.”

Mr Kirby said: “That is excellent news. The group has not gone away since we initially formed and Banks has made very few concessions of their own volition so it is good to hear them say local people will be involved.”