“GRAVE” concerns about plans to build a wind farm have been raised by town councillors.

Members of Whitchurch Town Council’s development control committee considered plans by EDF Energy Renewables to install wind turbines at Bullington Cross.

The site is near to the junction of the A34 and the A303, comprising open arable farmland and woodland and is not inside the Whitchurch boundary but the town council is being consulted about the plan.

Feasibility work is being undertaken with a view to submitting a planning application later this year.

EDF wants to install a maximum of 17 turbines, to produce 34MW of clean energy – allegedly enough to supply the annual domestic electricity requirements of approximately 15,800 homes.

At the Whitchurch committee meeting, Councillor Michael Fitzgerald said: “It’s not in an area of outstanding natural beauty, but it impacts on it.”

Cllr Linda Thomas said she was concerned about disruption to public rights of way. She said the project was “too large and onerous” for the area.

Councillors heard from resident John Buckley, who said feedback on the parish website showed 48 out of 50 people who left comments were in support of the wind farm.

But Cllr Barry Jackman said: “We are representing the public but do they realise the extent it will impact everything to do with Whitchurch? I think we would have a massive outcry against it.”

The wind turbines would be 125 metres tall.

Councillors agreed to object to the plans and express “grave concerns” regarding the size, and impact on the surrounding environment.