PLANS for a wind turbine “half the size of Blackpool tower” to be erected on Turton farmland have been turned down by Bolton’s planning committee.

Dozens of campaigners cheered and applauded as councillors refused the bid by Birches Farm to install a 67 metre high turbine —as tall as Bolton Town Hall’s clock tower in Victoria Square — in green belt countryside.

Andrew Paton, owner of Birches Farm, said the turbine would be used to run his dairy farm, would help his business become more environmentally friendly and, in the long run, would bring jobs to the area.

But all of Bradshaw’s three councillors spoke vehemently against the plans.

Cllr Walter Hall describing the turbine as a “monster on the moors”.

He added: “It’s not about being green, it’s about being greedy, all at the expense of the local community.”

Cllr Mudasir Dean moved to refuse the proposal, asking the committee to disregard the 300 letters in support of Mr Paton’s application and instead focus on the 132 genuine letters of objection.

He said: “In Bradshaw and Bolton we are blessed with wonderful views and walks.

“I believe we need to protect our countryside for our future generations — that is one of the reasons some of us on this planning committee came into politics.”