THE developer of Oswaldtwistle Moor’s controversial wind farm has announced plans to extend it by a third.

EnergieKontor said it will create dozens of new jobs if it is given permission to build another four 120-metre high turbines, taking the total to 12.

But local councillor Peter Britcliffe, who was vehemently opposed to the original farm being built, said he will ‘campaign vigorously’ against the new plans, which will be subject to planning per- mission.

The wind farm, off Haslingden Road, generated enough electricity to power more than 24,400 homes between March last year and February, Energie-Kontor said.

It said four new turbines would generate enough renewable energy to power more than 8,000 more homes.

Project manager Sam Dewar said: “Hyndburn has been identified as an ideal location for a wind farm due to many contributory factors.

“Power produced by the site will not only be limitless, but also clean and environmentally friendly, benefiting the local community.“ The Lancashire Telegraph revealed last week how funds from the site had benefited local community groups to the tune of £100,000, and the company said the latest application, which will be made in June, would bring in another £40,000.

But Coun Britcliffe said residents were likely to be angered by the plans, with many suffering from television reception problems linked to the existing wind farm.

He said: “We have enough, if not more than enough, and I will campaign vig-orously against the wind farm being extended.

“We have beautiful moorland in Oswaldtwistle which is being desecrated by these wind farms.

“I’m sure a lot of people who have suffered inter-ference on their television pictures, and think the countryside is being blighted, will feel very strongly about this.”

The firm’s plans will be displayed at Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre, in Union Road, from 5pm to 8pm on Tuesday, June 3, and at Accrington Library, from Thursday, June 5.

A public open day is also being planned for the summer.