Fears turbines are destroying the region

Fresh fears have today been raised about the number of turbines being built in the north of the county.

They come after plans for a 161ft (49m) turbine at Top House Farm, in Cockshutt, near Ellesmere, were granted approval by Shropshire Council earlier this month.

It is the latest in a host of similar applications which have been approved by the council's north planning committee over the past 12 months.

Lincoln McMullan, owner of The Signtists in Ellesmere, has called for no more wind turbines to be built in the area.

The chairman of Ellesmere Chamber of Commerce said: "The fact that we are getting more wind turbines in our area alarms me.

"The one in Cockshutt has just been passed and more are planned, including the massive one on the border of Ellesmere by The Newnes.

"We do not want any wind turbines. They are a waste of space.

"We all want to make money but there are limits and destroying our countryside is not the way.

"This is not the chamber of commerce's view, this is my personal view."

Stressed Mr McMullan has echoed the views of Brian Williams, Shropshire Councillor for The Meres, who has raised fears north Shropshire is being turned into a giant wind farm.

At this month's planning committee meeting, councillors highlighted the importance the turbine at Cockshutt would be to power the applicants' farm.

But Councillor Williams stressed the importance of the committee deciding when "enough is enough".

Shropshire Council has also recently approved plans to build a 150ft (46km) turbine at Kenwick Lodge Farm in Cockshutt.

The turbine will be three miles away from a 150ft turbine at Shade Oak Stud, in Bagley, near Ellesmere.

It will also be five miles from a 119ft (36m) turbine which is in operation at Winston Farm in Tetchill, near Ellesmere.

Other recently approved applications include a 150ft turbine at Lea Hall, Ash Parva, near Whitchurch, a turbine featuring a 49ft (15m) mast at Laurel Villa, Weston Lullingfields, and a 74ft (22.5m) turbine at Sleap House Farm, near Harmer Hill.

John Paul Jeffels, who lives in nearby Tetchill, claims many residents in the area won't be able to see the countryside from their properties without the view being obstructed by wind turbines.

He also agreed that the area could soon look like a giant windfarm. However, those in favour of wind turbines say the energy they produce does not cause greenhouse gases or other pollutants once they are built.