DORCHESTER Town Council has pledged its support to the proposed wind farm at Slyers Lane.

Councillors voted six to three in favour of writing a letter of support for the planned wind farm at this week’s planning and environment committee.

The wind farm would be located on agricultural land near Charminster, to the north of the county town.

Renewable energy firm Broadview Energy Limited has submitted a planning application to West Dorset District Council for a six-wind turbine farm on agricultural land at Slyer’s Lane near Charminster.

The wind turbines will measure 115 metres in height, and will each have three blades measuring 45 metres in length, and the diameter of the turbine will be 90 metres. The site will also have a sub-station and an 80 metre high mast.

Dorchester Town Council was consulted on the wind farm as it is an adjoining parish and was asked to comment on the landscape and visual impact of the proposal, its potential impact on the archaeology and heritage of the town, and on the access route for the delivery of plant and equipment. The letter of support will be considered by WDDC when it discusses the application in the coming months.

The proposed wind farm has divided opinion in the town with protest and support groups created and the meeting, which was attended by around 20 local residents, was shown a presentation of the plans and also heard views for and against from members of the public.

Ian Gosling, vice chairman of the No Slyers Lane Turbines group, said the wind turbines would have an adverse affect on heritage assets such as Maiden Castle and Kingston Maurward, the ‘visual appreciation’ from Dorchester of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and also on local social amenities such as footpaths.

Mr Gosling said: “We object because of the scale, height and the industrial nature of the turbines.”

Jeanie Averill, spokesperson for West Dorset ProWind, said the group had received more than 1,000 statements of support from local residents, and added: “We need to look at them within a living landscape, some people we have spoken to say they like looking at them and people see them as a positive way of caring for the local landscape.”

One member of the public called for the council to ‘be brave’ in supporting the application, which was agreed with by a number of councillors.

Cllr Molly Rennie said: “We have got to be brave.

“Other towns have been brave in installing these and they have not lost visitors to their town, so we have now got to join in with that bravery.”

Cllr Vivienne Allan, who voted against it, said: “I think they are a good idea, but only if they are in the right place and I don’t think this is the right place.”

Cllr Tamara Loakes added: “The proposed setting is too close to the town and will be seen by a lot of different people in a lot of different places.”