CAMPAIGNERS fighting proposals for a wind farm at East Stoke are appealing for a mass protest at the planning meeting which will decide its fate.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England and Dorset Against Rural Turbines (Dart) are mobilising objectors to demonstrate at a special meeting of the Purbeck District Council planning committee at the end of this month.

Terry Stewart, president of Dorset CPRE, said: “Certainly there is strong local feeling so we expect a good turn-out.”

Revised plans from Infinergy to erect four giant turbines at the Masters Quarry site, Puddletown Road, East Stoke, will come before planners on Tuesday, November 30, from 7pm.

Some 700 people wrote to the council on the proposal and such is the strength of feeling the special planning meeting will be convened at The Purbeck School, where the main hall holds 400.

The proposed turbines would be 125 metres tall – nearly three times the height of Nelson’s Column. They have sparked vehement opposition, with concerns including the proximity to people, the visual impact and the threat to birds from the spinning blades.

But there is also support, from groups including the Purbeck Environment Action Team, which champions the need for green energy.

Geoff Edwardes, chairman of Dart, said the turbine noise could damage health, adding: “Yet the proposed turbines are only 125 metres from the year-round Dorset Scout Camp, that is used by about 10,000 scouts. Tent walls are no protection.”

Infinergy’s Herb Lindlahr, who is managing the project, said they felt they had “ticked the right boxes” and had presented a factual report to the council.

He said that the plans had had a “lot of support”, adding: “There are a lot of ‘pro’ people in the area and a lot of them are quite frankly fed up with the CPRE trying to fossilise the whole of the country.

“It’s their future that counts – they’re looking at the next generation and feel they certainly need to do something for the environment.”

Planning authority Purbeck District Council has yet to issue its report – which will recommend the application either for approval or refusal. That is expected to be released next week.