CAMPAIGNERS have handed over more than 1,600 letters of objection to plans to create two giant wind turbines.

The proposed turbines will stand within a few hundred yards from the A174 roundabout between Kirkleatham village and the Wilton International Site in east Cleveland.

They maintain that the turbines are more than 460 ft high - larger than those in the Coatham Bay wind farm - and will stand one and a half times the height of the Cleveland Hills behind them.

The campaigners have taken heart after Greg Clarke, Minister for Communities, said in Parliament's that a local planning authority can only find the proposal acceptable, if following consultation they are satisfied it has addressed the planning impacts identified by the local communities and, therefore, has its backing.

Retired businessman Phil Chapman, who is leading the objectors, said: "This statement has galvanised people right across the area into expressing their views on the proposal.

"In the last few weeks, we have received over 1,500 letters objecting to the proposal. The letters have come not from only from the three villages that are directly affected but from as far afield as Hartlepool, Billingham, Marske and Saltburn.

"All these people are concerned at the damaging effect such huge turbines will have on the rural setting south of the A174 and on the many historical Listed Buildings in the immediate vicinity of the turbine site."

Campaigner Peter Sotheran said the letters the group have submitted to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's regulatory committee will have to be handled as individual objections.

"This is a much better way of raising our concerns, a petition is dealt with as one individual objection but with each person writing and signing a letter of objection these have to be treated as individual objections.

"We want to make it clear that we are not against wind turbines or renewable energy, it's just that these are too big and in the wrong place."

Cllr Dale Quigley, the council's cabinet member for economic growth, said: “We have acknowledge the receipt of these letters of objection from members of the local community and will be considering their contents. It will be up to the planning committee members to decide whether or not to approve the application."

No one from applicant Airvolution was available for comment today (Friday, March 11).

Previously, the company has set up a community liaison group to receive feedback from residents in the area.