A QUARRY company which is putting a 70-metre mast in a field near Cannington to determine wind speeds insists it is NOT the forerunner to a major wind farm scheme.

A week after plans for nine wind turbines in the Huntspills were rejected, Castle Hill Quarry near Cannington was given permission by Sedgemoor District Council to place a meteorological mast on a sheep field at Park Farm near the quarry.

The firm wants to build a single wind turbine to meet its energy needs, and the mast will be used to determine whether it is a suitable site.

Two letters were penned to the council urging it to reject the mast.

Paul Billing, of Cannington, wrote: “Our fear is that this could be the precursor to wind generation on the site which would be totally unacceptable.”

However, John Dupre, development manager for the project, said: “It’s a very common concern that we get from people, that one turbine will be the first of many, but I can confirm that this will only be a single turbine.

“The quarry uses quite a large amount of energy. The stone has to be dug out of the ground and then crushed and graded.

“There are various items of machinery used which are very energy intensive. With this wind turbine the quarry are hoping to reduce their energy costs and do their bit for the environment.”

The mast is likely to go up in the next three to six months, with an application for the wind turbine likely to be submitted by the end of the year.

Its size will depend on the results of feasibility studies, including wind speed, noise management and ecology. Any surplus energy will go back to the grid.