COUNCILLORS in Alveston have given their support to residents campaigning against an application for three wind turbines to be built in their village.

Alveston Parish Council voted in favour of supporting the objection tabled against the controversial planning application at its full council meeting last night.

Stroud-based power company Ecotricity wants to build three wind turbines on farmland off Old Gloucester Road in Earthcott Green, near Alveston.

The three 99 metre tall turbines would generate up to 16.75 GWh of power each year, which could power approximately 5,000 homes.

Cllr John Cutland, chairman of Alveston Parish Council, said: "The planning committee put the proposal forward to the main parish meeting that they would not support the application.

"Alveston Parish Council will object to this planning application in support of the community response it has received."

The parish council said it objected to the three wind turbines because of the scale of the development and because it believed it was more in-keeping with an industrial area.

The council also expressed its concerns about the impact it would have on residents living near the proposed windfarm.

The parish council's decision was welcomed by residents of Earthcott Green who attended Monday's meeting.

David Watson, of Earthcott Green, said: "It is reassuring to have the support of the parish council on this. It will affect the lives of many people living in the area."

A petition launched by Earthcott Green residents last week against the turbines has already attracted almost 200 signatures.

No one from Ecotricity was available for comment.

The date for people to respond to the application has now been extended to Wednesday, July 23. It is expected to go before South Gloucestershire Council's development control committee for a decision by the end of summer or the beginning of autumn.