"UNACCEOPTABLE" plans for a wind farm near mid Essex villages have been thrown out by councillors after concerns were raised about highway safety.

Dengie Marshes Wind Farm Limited was behind the proposals for the 15 wind turbines near Bridge Wick Lane on the Dengie Peninsula, near Southminster. Maldon District Council's district planning committee discussed the plans at a meeting on Tuesday (July 17).

The planning officer told the meeting the proposal "is likely to have an adverse effect" on the integrity of the Dengie Mid Essex Coast phase one special protection area. He added the proposal "is likely to damage or destroy" the features of the Dengie site of special scientific interest.

Cllr Adrian Fluker raised various concerns at the meeting. The Reform UK councillor added: "I believe, and so do local residents, that the proposed route is dangerous. There is nothing you can put into an agreement to mitigate the danger to all of the users of that carriageway. I would say for clarity, when these sites become operational, significant numbers of birds and bats are killed by the blades, and that continues for the life of the development."

Cllr Wendy Laybourn also raised highways concerns. The Conservative councillor added: "It's an absolutely outstandingly beautiful road, that's countryside, and the thought of actually having lorries going down there is absolutely ridiculous. It's even difficult when a car is passing, there are no places where you can go for safety." She added: "You basically take your life in your hands every day using those roads, so it is very unsuitable."

The plans state the proposed wind farm could create "enough clean energy" to power 100,000 homes. The plans also state it "will deliver local benefits through a community benefit fund of up to £600,000 per annum."

The plans also state: "The Dengie Marshes Wind Farm has been carefully designed having regard to the existing landscape character which is already home to three significant clusters of wind turbines. Our visual impact assessment follows best practice and we've designed the project to reduce its effect on views from nearby towns, homes, and public paths.

"The turbines are arranged in a linear siting to avoid forming a large cluster and are placed on the more remote coastal side of the existing wind farms."