MEMBERS of a group against the construction of two wind turbines near Olveston are urging councillors to object to the application.

South Gloucestershire Council’s Development Control (West) Committee will finally decide whether or not to allow the structures to be built on Thursday, December 11.

REG Windpower initially applied for permission to build three 130m tall wind turbines just south of Ingst but scaled back their plans to two.

The firm believes that the two turbines would create between 12.3 million and 13.8 million kWh of renewable electricity per year - enough to meet the needs of between 2,800 and 3,100 homes.

Following the announcement a group was formed against the proposals which they believe would disrupt views out across the Severn.

The Olveston Wind-farm Action Group (OWAG) hopes that the council will decide against allowing the construction of the turbines.

A spokesman for OWAG said: “There are a myriad of reasons why the application should be refused. First among them is that the two 130-metre turbines would be on unspoiled agricultural land in the Green Belt, and the application entirely fails to show the “very special circumstances” necessary for Green Belt development to be allowed.

“The site is only 1,000 metres from the edge of Olveston, and a mere 600 metres from Ingst. It is close to the Conservation Areas of Olveston and Tockington, and not much further from that at Almondsbury.

“It is not only the internal character of Conservation Areas which are supposed to be protected by planning regulations, but also the views from them.”

Bristol Energy Cooperative has an option in place to purchase the wind turbines if they are built.

Andy O’Brien, a co-director at the firm and member of Sustainable Thornbury, stressed the importance of renewable energy developments.

He said: “Wind power is a very efficient form of renewable energy particularly compared to solar farms, wind power tends to operate at about 30 per cent efficiency compared with solar farms which are about 10 per cent.

“We have been talking with local residents and Olveston Parish Council to ensure that the development is good for the community.

Bristol Energy Cooperative is a community benefits society and they operate by selling shares in developments to fund the projects.

“We will offer shares to the community to purchase as well as looking at more traditional bank funding options through loans.

“There is a huge need for more renewable energy production not just in South Gloucestershire but globally to tackle climate change which is a huge problem and will affect our children.”

A spokesman for REG Windpower said: “We believe this site, located between two motorways, is an excellent place to generate significant quantities of safe, clean renewable electricity and our studies confirm this.

“We are also delighted to be working with Bristol Energy Co-Operative which will give local people the chance to own the wind farm and have full control over the income.

“We know there are lots of people in favour of wind energy in South Gloucestershire, and of this project, so we hope members of the planning committee recognise the clear benefits of the application.

As part of the proposals, £5,000 per megawatt of installed capacity will be given to Olveston Parish Council for each year the wind farm operates - worth more than £500,000 over the wind farm’s expected lifetime.

A decision on the application will be made by South Gloucestershire councillors at the meeting held in Armstrong Hall, Thornbury on Thursday, December 11 from 10am.