A PUBLIC meeting on resubmitted plans to build a windfarm at Hemsby will be a three-hour session that gives everyone the chance to havetheir say.Bob Reynolds, chairman of Hemsby Parish Council, said the issue was too controversial to be decided by members alone and that residents needed an opportunity to shape the council's response.

A PUBLIC meeting on resubmitted plans to build a windfarm at Hemsby will be a three-hour session that gives everyone the chance to have

their say.

Bob Reynolds, chairman of Hemsby Parish Council, said the issue was too controversial to be decided by members alone and that residents needed an opportunity to shape the council's response.

Two years ago, the village was divided over SLP Energy's plans for four 125m turbines straddling land between Hemsby and Ormesby. Concerns ranged from the impact on the landscape to interference with television signals and migrating geese, and the plans were withdrawn in December 2007.

New proposals show the turbines trimmed to 105m and backed by a landscape and visual impact assessment that says the smaller structures will not be an eyesore.

The SLP report says that although the windfarm would impact on the immediate vicinity, it would have little effect on the surrounding Broadland countryside.

It states: “It can be considered that the overall nature of the effect of the Hemsby windfarm development will be generally neutral from the majority of the landscape character areas and viewpoints, given the turbines of Somerton, Blood Hill and Scroby Sands already exist in the same landscape.”

But Jim Shrimplin, cabinet for the member for the environment, said he remained opposed to the turbines, which even at their new height were “still enormous” and would dominate the landscape.”

SLP says that it will ensure that wildlife is not disturbed by the turbines. It also says that problems of poor television signals could be solved with better aerials or by providing an alternative source of transmission, such as cable or digital systems.

SLP, which operates the Ness Point turbine at Lowestoft, says the windfarm would operate for 25 years and supply 13.96pc of all the electricity needed in Yarmouth.

Paul Smith, SLP onshore development manager, said: “Our findings indicate that the project will not have any long-term adverse effects on the environment.

The meeting at Hemsby Village Hall is on October 9 from 5pm to 8pm.

Details of the Hemsby onshore wind turbine plan and a non-technical summary can be viewed on www.slp-energy.com or at Yarmouth Borough Council Town Hall and Yarmouth, Caister and Martham libraries.