A controversial planning application for a single wind turbine at Thoulstone Farm in Chapmanslade has now been submitted to Wiltshire Council.

Plans for the wind turbine, which were on display at a drop-in information event at St Phillip and St James’ Church in April, is being planned by Seren Energy.

It will be 87 metres high with blades 53 metres in diameter if it gets the go-ahead.

Seren Energy says the scheme is being developed with Frome businessmen and landowners Robert and Alan Welch, together with Tony Robinson, with the Welch family owning 80 per cent of the scheme and Seren owning 20 per cent.

Protestors turned out in force to show their opposition to the wind turbine at the consultation event held earlier this year, claiming that it will blight the views of Cley Hill.

Tim Page, a spokesman for Stop Thoulstone Farm Wind Turbine, a local action group opposing the proposal, said: “We are poised to object in the strongest possible terms to this ill-considered and inappropriate planning application.

“It is in an historic and unspoilt piece of Wiltshire countryside, backdropped by Cley Hill, Longleat and the surrounding area of outstanding natural beauty.

“At 87m high, such a structure is the height of a 28-storey building, and totally out of place in that countryside.

“The protestations of climate change benefit littered throughout the planning application are laughable for the little dribble of electricity that such a machine may occasionally produce.”

Seren has suggested it pays £15,000 as an initial community fund payment and £2,000 a year for the wind turbine’s operational life of 25 years to the local community or parish council support local initiatives.

Now that the planning application has been lodged with Wiltshire Council people have until Friday, October 24, to comment.

Details are available on the council's website under the planning application number 14/08778/FUL