NINE villages furious at a developer's bid to build a £5 million windfarm in the heart of rural Suffolk have calling for the project to be scrapped.

NINE villages furious at a developer's bid to build a £5 million windfarm in the heart of rural Suffolk have calling for the project to be scrapped.

Mid Suffolk District Council had already given the go ahead for a 70 metre high wind monitoring mast at Wyverstone, near Stowmarket, and this has now led to an application for two 130 metre high turbines which would provide electricity to more than 3,600 homes.

But parish councils at nine villages have opposed the development, at Bacton, Badwell Ash, Cotton, Elmswell, Finningham, Great Ashfield, Wetherden, Westhorpe and Wyverstone.

John Bean, parish council clerk at Wyverstone, said the turbines are too close too resident's homes and are believed to be the highest ever erected anywhere.

Andrew Catchpole, Westhorpe Parish Council clerk, said residents live in a tranquil area and any additional noise from the wind turbines would be unwelcome.

Andy Hilton, managing director of Norfolk based Wind Power Renewables and the man behind the project, believes they will be beautiful structures despite massive opposition.

Mr Hilton, who was project manager for the construction of Britain's two largest offshore wind farms, Scroby Sands off Yarmouth and at Barrow off the north west, said last night: “We think this is still an ideal location and wind speeds are fantastic. The met mast been taken down now and we are over the moon with the wind speed readings.

A spokeswoman for Mid Suffolk District Council said they have yet to reach a decision on the wind farm, and expect to do so by January 26.