An energy company's plans to build four wind turbines near Hemsby were thrown out last night after they were criticised by councillors.As Great Yarmouth borough councillors rejected the SLP scheme for the 105m turbines at Hemsby, they claimed the structures would destroy the countryside and have little impact on green energy targets.

THE prospect of four new wind turbines near Hemsby receded last night after revised plans were thrown out by the council.

Members of the development control committee rejected the 105m high structures after Chairman Charles Reynolds said they would “destroy the countryside” and labeled them “monstrous”.

The majority view that they would ruin the area was echoed by the area's borough councilor George Jermany, who said that this was a success for local democracy.

“I think it's the right decision because it represents what the people of Hemsby and Ormsby wanted. The bottom line is that it was my personal view too.

“Wind turbines are great in the right place and if they put them in the North Sea I would have no problem, but they were spread over such a small space and I would've opposed smaller ones in that area.

“The bottom line is that they are getting objections all over Norfolk- It's about getting the balance right because the area is very flat and they've got to be there for a lot of years.”

The proposals, made by SLP Energy, would have seen the turbines erected to the south of Hemsby village, with three going to the west of the Ormesby Road and the fourth going to its west.

The application comes two years after the company withdrew similar plans for taller turbines due to concerns raised by Natural England and the Ministry of Defence, who had objections to the impact the impact they would have on radar systems.

However, despite the 25pc reduction in height and both bodies giving the new plans the go ahead, councilors voted seven to three against.

There were also 78 letters of objection from worried residents, in contrast to three letters of support.

Paul Smith, representing the SLP defended the plans to the committee, saying that they had taken in residents concerns. He said: “We are still considering what our next step will be, but it is safe to say we were disappointed by the decision.”

SLP Energy said the turbines would have met the power needs of 13.96pc of the borough by producing renewable energy for more than 5,500 homes in the area.