HUNDREDS of residents crammed into a York meeting last night to discuss the next steps in their fight against plans which could see a controversial wind farm built near their homes.

Green energy firm Banks Renewables is expecting to make a decision within months on whether it will look to install five turbines which would be twice the height of York Minster on a patch of farmland near the A64 at Copmanthorpe.

But the scheme has sparked fierce local criticism and the creation of the Copmanthorpe Wind Farm Action Group, which last night staged a public meeting at the village's Methodist Church.

The level of attendance meant many people had to stand outside as forms were handed out asking for new members to join the group, make financial donations and lend any specialist knowledge to the campaign.

Graham Auton, one of the group’s spokesmen, told the meeting: “There can be no doubt that this development would change the face of Copmanthorpe forever.

“The whole complexion of village life would be affected. There will be those who say that it doesn’t matter, but it does.

“The turbines would be noisy, as tall as Blackpool Tower and, as they are too close to the A64, a distraction for drivers on a road which has a history of serious and fatal accidents.

The low-frequency noise they create would have health implications for people living nearby, such as headaches and tinnitus, and we also have to think about the effect on our neighbours in nearby villages.”

“The wind farm would also damage the one remaining green boundary we have in Copmanthorpe, and it would be criminal to have that taken away from us.”

Banks Renewables has said the Hagg Wood project, if it is pursued, would provide enough power for 8,300 homes and lead to money being invested in local community schemes, as well as creating about 30 construction jobs. The turbines would be 475ft high.

The company has already submitted a planning application to City of York Council for a monitoring mast to assess whether the site would be suitable