Cheshire West and Chester Council is objecting to a proposal for a 20 turbine onshore wind farm and generating station in the Green Belt based at Lordship Lane in Frodsham.

The Council was asked for its views by the Government, which is considering the application by Peel Wind Farms (Frodsham) Limited. The objection will now trigger a public inquiry.

The Strategic Planning Committee considered the 60MW scheme, which would operate over a 25-year period before being decommissioned and then potentially restored.

Local Frodsham and Helsby Councillor Les Ford said: "There have been 563 letters of objection and 293 in support. Of the addresses checked so far only 65 were from residents from Frodsham, Helsby and Elton.

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"The Green Belt was established to prevent industrialisation of this area. The wind turbines are an industrial element quite contrary to our Green Belt policy. No mitigation is possible.

"Also the low frequency noise of the turbines will penetrate house walls and travel a great distance."

Councillor Ford also raised the issue of protected species of birds and bats, claiming thousands could be killed by the turbines and argued that this was contrary to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This issue will now be raised with the Secretary of State.

The turbines have a maximum height of 80 metres to the hub and 125 metres to the tip, giving a rotor radius of approximately 45 metres. They would be three bladed and grey in colour.

They could be seen from Helsby Hill, the Northern Sandstone Ridge and the Frodsham Sandstone Fringe.

Councillor Malcolm Gaskill said: "In the past I have supported wind farms until I went to Anglesey and saw those monsters and I have hated wind farms ever since. They should be in the North Sea."

Approximately 4,498 homes would be within 2km of any proposed turbines. The residential assessment has identified that 36 percent would experience changes in views.

(CD)