A CONTROVERSIAL planning application for two 20-metre high wind turbines looks set to finally be approved this week.

Planning bosses at South Gloucestershire Council will be making a decision on the application to build two wind turbines within the grounds of Almondsbury Sports and Social Club, near junction 16 of the M5 motorway.

The sports and social club’s management committee, which made the application, claims the 19.8 metre high turbines would be able to provide up to 77 percent of the club's energy requirements, reducing its carbon footprint.

The application was first made last July but has taken eight months to reach a final decision because of objections received by the Highways Agency, which led to the re-siting of one of the turbines, and from the operators of the police radio communication system.

However, after a series of tests the emergency services have now retracted their objections.

Nick Barnard, from communications company Airwave Solutions, which runs radios for the emergency services, said: "We have completed our microwave tests in relation to the application for the two wind turbines and I am glad to say that there is no intrusion on any of our links."

The application has also attracted a large number of objections from the Almondsbury community, including 11 residents and the parish council.

Residents have said they object to the application because it is within the green belt, there are safety concerns, the site is not good for wind velocity and the development is out of keeping with the recreational use of the land.

Cllr Diane Wilson, from Almondsbury Parish Council, said: "There are places for these things and it is not in a public playing field. This is not privately owned land, it belongs to the people of Almondsbury."

No one from the Almondsbury Sports and Social Club was available for comment.

The application will be heard at South Gloucestershire Council’s development control committee meeting being held at the council chamber in Thornbury on Thursday (2.30pm).