RESIDENTS of a Silsden caravan park are objecting to plans to build a wind turbine in a nearby field.

People living at Cringles Park claim the proposed turbine will cause noise nuisance and spoil their view of the countryside.

Several have written to the developers, wind turbine specialists DC21, threatening to lodge formal objections.

The turbine proposal is one of two that have been submitted to Bradford Council in recent weeks for planning approval.

The Cringles plan is for an e-4660 turbine to be erected on open farmland to the east of Bolton Road at Silsden.

The site, part of Bank End Farm, is owned by third-generation dairy farmers Michael and Simon Spence, who say that increasing running costs and overheads are putting pressure on their farm business.

They hope to generate income from electricity generated by the turbine, which can be invested in much-needed upgrades for their dairy.

Before submitting their planning application DC21 carried out a community consultation exercise in Silsden, which attracted several objections from Cringles Park residents.

One claimed the turbine would spoil the view from his home and cause noise in his living room.

He added: “We feel the benefits of the turbine will be minimal towards the ecology of the wildlife and power savings.”

Another resident, also anxious about noise, wrote: “We are really worried about other turbines being sited on the land spoiling our views of the countryside.”

Silsden Town Council chairman Chris Atkinson said the Cringles Park campaigners had approached him asking for support.

He said that while he was not generally against wind turbines in Silsden, not every location was suitable.

Cllr Atkinson said: “If wind turbines do cause a noise nuisance then they’re unacceptable near houses. But if they’re in the middle of a field that’s okay.

“There are quite a lot of turbines around Silsden, which makes it hard to turn down others. We deal with every application on its own merits. “

Town and district councillor Adrian Naylor agreed that each wind turbine application had to be looked at separately, both for how it would affect the surrounding landscape and the financial benefits it might bring.

He added: “Most of these turbines are in the green belt. It’s a question of whether you protect the environment in relation to the visual amenity or whether the turbine supports the farm.”

A second, separate planning application has been submitted to Bradford Council for a 36-metre high turbine at Rough Holden Farm on Holden Lane.