More than 100 villagers from Marshland St James and the surrounding villages filled King's Lynn town hall earlier this week and cheered as each member of the committee recorded their opposition to plans to build a 19- turbine windfarm.

Members of the Development Control Board followed advice from planning officers who catalogued concerns about the effect the 142m-high turbines would have on the local landscape.

Officers also stated there was insufficient information about the level of noise the turbines would generate and the impact shadow flicker would have on nearby homes.

Natural England, the RSPB and CPRE all objected along with local protest group Flat (Fenland Landscape Against Turbines).

West Norfolk Council is only a consultee and the ultimate decision lies with central government.

Officers did accept that the turbines would generate electricity to power 28,000 homes and there was a national need for renewable energy sources.

Richard Kowitz, a representative for Marshland Wind Farm which put forward the proposals, said: "This project is a good approach to the fight against climate change. We have outlined a community project of £1.45m and we think employment is an issue in the rural economy."

After the meeting, Mr Kowitz added: "We are going to file much more information and meet the worries of the community. We were disappointed a decision was not put on hold so we could submit more information for our application."

Brian Long, West Norfolk councillor for Tilney St Lawrence, said: "We take more than our fair share of energy generation in the Wash and for that reason I do not think we want to see them on our land."

Chairman of the development control board, Vivienne Spikings, said: "This is the wrong way and it's going to ruin our landscape forever."

Speaking during the meeting, Mike Barnard, from Flat, said: "This is the wrong scheme in the wrong place."

David Matkinson, chairman of Marshland St James Parish Council, said: "I am pleased on behalf of the people of Marshland St James. There were a lot of people who were opposed. It is obviously a proposal that has been very upsetting for the people in the area and they clearly do not want it."

The report says in a parish survey in Marshland St James 186 people were against the windfarm, 54 supported it and 29 did not have a view either way.