CAMPAIGNERS in rural east Cleveland have called on their council to oppose all “industrial” wind turbines in their area.

Concern was raised after applications were submitted to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council to build large wind turbines at Stanghow, near Lingdale, and at Kilton Thorpe, near Brotton.

Residents and councillors voted unanimously at a meeting of Lockwood Neighbourhood Action Partnership to call on the council to change its wind turbine policy.

However, the council says it is unable to set its own agenda and must follow national guidelines.

Coun Steven Kay’s motion called upon the Council to oppose all industrial wind turbine development in the Lockwood ward area.

He said: “The council’s planning committee has done a good job by refusing planning permission for large turbines but, at the moment, the Council’s policy has no teeth. It needs beefing up to stop this threat to our countryside once and for all.

“We are sick and tired of planning officials telling us there is nothing beautiful or outstanding about our area and that therefore we should put up with these horrendous structures. They are not even efficient at generating electricity.”

Parish councillor Mike Jefferson said: “The Lockwood villages have all just won gold medals in Northumbria in Bloom.

"What is more, in the national Britain in Bloom competition, Stanghow was top of its category, again winning a gold medal. Why should all this local effort be spoiled by these horrendous machines?”

Coun Helen McLuckie, cabinet member for highways, transportation and planning, said: "As Coun Kay is fully aware, the Council is not in a position to devise its own local wind turbine policy. There are already clear national guidelines in place on locations of turbines, which we as a local authority have no power to overrule.

"Each planning application is judged on its own merits. We could not create a system which involved pre-judging an application before it had even reached the planning committee.

"However, council officers are developing a protocol, which is going to November's Cabinet meeting, on how they would deal with renewable energy planning applications.

"This will give clarity to residents and developers alike on the process followed in considering such applications and give a better understanding on why the officers reach their recommendations for consideration by the planning committee."

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