YORK residents fighting plans for a wind turbine on Green Belt land near their homes have won support from their local MP.

Plans for the 36.4-metre mast at Grange Farm, on Hodgson Lane in Upper Poppleton, were submitted to City of York Council before Christmas, and the authority could make a decision within weeks.

But the application has drawn more than 130 objections, and York Outer MP Julian Sturdy has now added his voice to the protersters’ campaign, questioning whether the community has been properly consulted.

In his letter to planning officials, Mr Sturdy said: “My constituents believe that if the application were granted permission, it would have the potential to adversely affect their lives, livelihoods and wellbeing.

“Due to the size and scale of the proposed turbine, and being located only 300 metres from housing, my constituents believe this will have a detrimental impact on their residential amenity. The potential noise levels could also have important implications on their health and wellbeing.”

Mr Sturdy said Poppleton residents believed the turbine would be “much too large”, would “blight views of the local landscape” and be an “infringement” on the Green Belt, adding there was “considerable concern” about public consultation.

The turbine would be 46 metres high at its blade-tip, three quarters of the height of York Minster’s Central Tower, but renewable energy company Earthmill Ltd, the agents for the scheme, say it would not be “oppressive” nor intrude on the surrounding landscape.

They say its impact would be reduced by nearby trees and said the scheme would provide renewable energy for the farm and help UK efforts to tackle climate change, which outweighed planning policies about Green Belt developments.

Poppleton resident Marjorie Collinson, one of the objectors, said she feared approving the turbine could set a precedent. Another, Ian Routledge, said it was “completely out of context” and Edith Parkin branded it “extremely overbearing and overpowering”.

Upper Poppleton Parish Council is also opposing the scheme, however the city council’s environment and conservation department has said it does not feel the turbine would harm wildlife or conservation in the area.