TWELVE 120-metre high turbines are to be built on Oswaldtwistle Moor after councillors approved the controversial plans.

The turbines will be built on land between Haslingden Old Road and the Elton Road section of the Grane Road.

Although Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe moved for the wind farm to be refused, councillors instead voted to approve it by 13 to eight. Earlier, a dozen councillors had been forced to leave the council chamber because of their involvement with Hyndburn environmental charity Prospects.

Under councillor guidelines, they were forced to declare an interest as the charity stands to gain around £5million over the 25-year life of the wind farm, due to a community fund pledged by the developers, combined with potential match funding.

At the meeting planning officers said they had received 397 letters of support, and 136 letters of objection. Speaking at the meeting, objector and Oswaldtwistle resident Dr Marjorie Bowker, said: “I am a scientist and, though wind farms are popular, they are incredibly inefficient and do not work most of the time.”