THE owners of a farm at the centre of a controversial wind turbine plan have had their request for a wind-measuring device approved.

The Gott family, who own Pleasant View Farm, Bull Hill, Darwen, submitted an application last year for a huge wind turbine on their land.

It would be 88.5 metres tall, three metres higher than India Mill, and would be higher than Darwen Tower on the landscape.

Now Blackburn with Darwen Council’s planning committee has approved the installation of a temporary anemometer at the farm.

The 50-metre structure would be in place for 18 months, and is designed to measure wind speeds.

A number of nearby residents were unhappy at the turbine plans, and set up ACT (Against Cranberry Turbine).

Mark Burns, of ACT, said he went to the planning meeting when the anenometer was approved.

He said: “The council said they didn’t have any grounds to stop it.

“It is a temporary structure that requires no digging and is very small, so I guess there is no reason.

“However, my concern is that some of the councillors voting don’t fully understand the issue as they don’t know the area.”

Mr Burns said he was confused as to why the anenometer was necessary.

He said: “I have looked at all the reports and they already state the wind speeds as they are there.

“I think it is strange they are doing this when they are clearly already confident about the wind speeds as they have already put the turbine application in.

“I think they are hoping to use this as leverage when the main application is considered.”

The turbine planning application is unlikely to go before the committee until April.