An East Yorkshire resident is calling for a change in the law so new wind turbines cannot be built near homes

Currently there is no minimum separation distance between homes and the structures, but company director Larry Fleming, from Spaldington, near Goole, wants a 2km limit.

Villagers are fighting proposals by two separate developers for 14 turbines standing 400ft tall, three times higher than Howden Minster.

But Mr Fleming, who has raised a petition on the Number 10 website, signed so far by 250 people, said such large structures should not be in anyone's back yard.

Mr Fleming, who lives 650 metres away from proposed turbines, said: "When you speak to people who live within 2km there are internationally known effects, known as wind turbine syndrome, which can be quite nasty."

So far neither of the wind companies planning to build turbines at Spaldington have submitted planning applications, although one of the developers Coriolis Energy and Falck Renewables, is looking to put its proposal for six turbines in next month.

Meanwhile an appeal begins today in Goole against the refusal of planning permission for a 10-turbines at Sixpenny Wood, just off the M62 at Balkholme.

Vicky Portwain, from Coriolis, said if there was a minimum 2km distance there would be no wind farms. "We are not in an either or situation. When you are looking at climate change and securing our energy supply we need to do more solar, more hydropower, we need all of it to make a difference."

The Coriolis scheme would produce enough energy to power between 6,000 and 7,000 homes.

Ms Portwain said fears about developments had been aroused by "hyped media".

The Government has set a target of deriving 15 per cent of energy from renewables by 2020.

Mr Fleming's petition can be seen at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/stopwindfarms/