PLANS to create West Somerset's first windfarm were dealt a blow on Wednesday when members of West Somerset District Council's planning committee refused to back the proposals. The decision came almost exactly two years after the Free Press first exclusively revealed plans were in the pipeline for the development. Councillors listened to more than three hours of representations from members of the public, pressure groups and the applicants themselves before reaching their decision in a 9-3 vote at a special meeting held in Cannington. Many councillors cited concerns about the potential impact of low frequency noise from the development, some doubted the accuracy of estimated energy output figures, while others were troubled by the impact of the windfarm on the immediate and surrounding countryside. However, the proposal by Your Energy to put a dozen turbines alongside Hinkley Point power station did have some support from councillors, with Cllr Keith Ross urging his colleagues to approve the development. He said wind turbines were "graceful, elegant structures" and added: "I don't think there will be a visual impact. "We have an opportunity here to generate safe and renewable energy. "It would be great if West Somerset could be thought of as producing its own power." Cllr Roger Webber also extolled the virtues of renewable energy and refuted claims the development would be noisy. However, although he supported the plans, he was less enthusiastic about Your Energy's 'planning gain' promises for the area, claiming promises to create a visitor interpretation centre were just not good enough. "If we are going to agree it I want to be assured we will get some gain for the community from this," he said. "I am minded to approve this. It's Government-led. If we don't approve it someone else will approve it outside of our remit." But his colleagues were determined not to be forced into making a decision simply because of threats of Government intervention and the likely possibility of a lengthy appeal and planning inquiry. Committee vice-chairman Cllr Tony Knight said there was no point having a planning committee on a local level if members simply bowed to threats of costly inquiries, but he acknowledged that something needed to be done "somewhere and somehow". He called for the myriad of windfarm and green energy developers to get together and spend their money on "one big useful project . . . like a barrage across the channel". He also raised concerns about the safety of walkers using the numerous public footpaths across the proposed development site as there would be no security fencing between them and the turbines. But the real stumbling block for the development was the ongoing wrangle over the adequacy of Your Energy's environmental statement and safety concerns raised by both the Health and Safety Executive and Hinkley Point operators British Energy. In a written report to the committee, planning officers Steve Kirby and Martin Lee said Your Energy had produced a "flawed" environmental statement which had failed to address key issues regarding bat roosting and feeding patterns and night-time bird flight patterns, including the use of the site by barn owls. The assessment had also failed to consistently plot the numerous rights of way which criss-crossed the site, while there were health and safety concerns over the risk posed by 'blade throw' to the existing power station. Both British Energy and the Health and Safety Executive had objected to the application, citing concerns about 'blade throw' - when a turbine blade is damaged and either part or the whole blade could potentially be 'thrown' across the site. However, both organisations said their objections could be addressed by the removal of the three turbines closest to the power station, something which would require a new planning application. In his address to the committee, Your Energy managing director Richard Mardon said all the concerns had been fully addressed, with a recently completed bat survey finding no evidence of breeding bats in the area and no sign that barns within the site were used as "significant roosts". He said Your Energy was more than happy to withdraw plans for three of the turbines located closest to Hinkley Point to overcome safety concerns and bluntly told the committee: "We have waited long enough for this day. We think we have done everything we need to do. "There aren't many places in this beautiful county to put a wind farm. Hinkley Point is not a thing of beauty. "There are no statutory consultees who object to this scheme. That will stand up very well at appeal. "This isn't a popularity contest but if the vote goes the wrong way it will be one of the most unpopular votes made in the district. "Don't let the nimbys be the thorn in the side of this issue. I beseech you to support this application for the sake of our children." But with no amended scheme on the table, councillors were reminded they needed to focus on the existing application for 12 turbines and the fact British Energy's concerns about the threat posed to the adjoining power station remained. Mr Lee said that despite the completion of a bat survey in recent weeks, the authority still did not have enough information on the subject, while it could take up to six months for the council to fully investigate an amended plan for nine turbines, should one be forthcoming. The council's acting head of planning Michael Swinton concluded: "The door is open to the applicants to come back with an amended application."