MP pledges to continue fight against scaled down Newport turbines plan
The number of huge turbines at a proposed wind farm has been scaled back from four to three in an attempt to appease protestors.
Developer REG Windpower had planned four 130 metre turbines at Knightley Hall, north-west of Gnosall, near Newport.
But after dozens of complaints, the developer has come back with a revised scheme of three turbines.
But Bill Cash, the MP for Stone, has vowed to continue to fight the plans.
Ian Lawrence, from REG Windpower, said: "Following the consultation and environmental studies to date, we have decided to reduce the number of turbines proposed at Knightley Hall to three.
He added: "Before we submit a planning application to Stafford Borough Council later this year we will consider all feedback and update residents at further information sessions. If the scheme is approved a community fund will be established to make significant sums of money available to the local communities and we'd like to hear residents' ideas for the fund."
REG Windpower held three public exhibitions in the area in December which almost 200 people attended.
The firm says that if the wind farm goes ahead, £675,000 will be made available over 25 years to support good causes in the area.
Local people would also be given the opportunity to invest in the wind farm.
Mr Cash : "In line with the wishes of my constituents, I will fight these proposals for wind turbines which will be a blot on the skyline.
"Wind turbines are inefficient, uneconomic and based on massive subsidies and which, far from being environmentally friendly or a sustainable source of energy, spoil the landscape, damage the local community, and drive down house prices, which is already happening on a serious scale."
Environmental studies are ongoing into plans for three turbines, which developers say could power 3,600 homes each year.
