PLANNERS have defied officer advice to refuse a scheme for two 20m tall wind turbines at a poultry farm in Fleggburgh.

Members of Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s development control committee heard the proposal was aimed at satisfying the farm’s customers, premium product buyers who were very aware of their green credentials and demanding carbon savings.

The two turbines would stand 27m high from the blade tip and generate 20kw of power each - enough to sell some back the national grid, members heard.

An earlier application had been withdraw so an environmental impact assessment and habitats’ survey could take place.

The council had received 53 letters of objection outlining a range of concerns from noise, anxiety, effect on the landscape and property prices and proximity to residential properties among other things.

Great Yarmouth MP Brandon Lewis, the county councillor, and the parish council had also objected.

However the main statutory bodies including Natural England, the Ministry of Defence and the Council for the Protection of Rural England had not objected.

Planning officer Tim Major said the proposal had generated a considerable amount of opposition.

He said the nearest house was 120m away - too far to be affected by noise even though it was an extremely quiet area with little background noise.

The turbines had no gear boxes, the main source of noise, and were the quietest available.

Norwich Airport, the committee heard, would withdraw its objection in March next year when it gained control of its airspace and all aircraft entering it would need clearance.

A spokesman for the applicant, Amber Real Estate Investments, said: “If my client is to continue to sell birds they must be low carbon as well. This is not a fad. All major buyers are asking for it.”

However, a spokesman for the objectors, said 90ft was too tall on landscape tagged “important” in the local plan and would break policy about rural character. She also raised a query about protected bat populations overlooked by the agencies but very much in evidence locally, and about looking into solar panels as an alternative.

Councillor Mick Castle said refusing it was “unthinkable” given the borough’s reliance on the energy industry. George Jermany however said turbines were “obnoxious.”

He said that if Hemsby’s were refused on landscape grounds so could these ones at Fleggburgh. He was also keen to see the solar panel alternative explored.

“They are obnoxious in the background,” he said. “I see no reason for having this.

David Thompson said there woud be no problem if they were moved half a mile away.

Members refused the application.