CAMPAIGNERS against plans for a new wind farm between Bagthorpe, Barmer and Syderstone have been told of the horrific impact turbines can have on village life.

A packed public meeting in Bircham Newton heard from a number of guest speakers who gave grave warnings about the health impact, noise disturbances and threat to wildlife which could stem from the five turbines earmarked for the villages.

Included among the speakers was Jane Davis, of Deeping St Nicholas, Lincolnshire, who described the persistent noise problems she has faced from a wind farm near her home.

She also spoke of how the value of her property has plummeted since the development was completed.

Syderstone resident Reg Thompson, a member of the action group formed to oppose the plans, said: "People are very concerned about this.

"There are moves being made in Europe to ban wind farms that are within two kilometres of housing and we hope that becomes legislation because every house in Syderstone falls within that radius.

"People are very upset. We have seen housing deals fall through as people no longer want to move here.

"We are talking about five turbines which are 325ft tall, that is the equivalent of a 30-storey block of flats which will be completely visible from every house in the village."

E.On UK is hoping to build a five turbine wind farm on agricultural land at Chiplow, in the parish of Bagthorpe with Barmer but adjacent to the Syderstone boundary.

Last month the company submitted plans for a 50m climate monitoring mast on the proposed site, with a full application expected in the autumn.

The application has been included in a new map produced by the Campaign to Protect Rural England in Norfolk, which suggests there may soon be few locations in the county from which a wind turbine is not visible.

Branch director James Frost said: "We have a duty to draw attention to the damage that large scale industrial structures such as wind turbines can have on the countryside.

"As more and more turbines are built, the more they will become the defining feature of the landscape."