A wind farm planned for land near Biggleswade could produce enough power for the town's entire population twice over, according to developers.

Rob Ellis of the Co-operative Group - which is proposing the wind farm, and Peter Hinson for development consultant EMP Squared turned out to a Biggleswade Town Council meeting this week to outline the plans.

They say the proposed 16 100m tall turbines, which would last for 25 years and cost around £2million each, could provide enough power for 18,000 homes.

An environmental impact study on the site, located from Edworth Way to Holme Green and the railway line to the A1, has been going on for the past two years, with the project now entering the consultation stage.

Once the turbines are up, the land would continue to be farmed, with only around one per cent of it being lost - and valuable gravel located underneath the land would be unaffected.

But before they decide whether or not to go ahead with the plans, they are asking people to come forward and have their say - with two public exhibitions planned for next week and bus trips to the Co-op's current wind farm in Coldham being planned.

It is expected that the company will decide in late September or early November whether or not to press ahead, with a planning application following in November.

Mid Beds District Council would be expected to take at least four months to decide whether to recommend the application for approval or not.

If successful, building could start in 2010.

Concerned residents at the meeting raised concerns over noise, devaluation of their homes and potential safety issues.

Public meetings detailing the plans are set to be held next Tuesday at St Andrew's Church Hall in Langford and next Wednesday at Biggleswade Town Hall. Both consultations will run from 11am to 8.30pm.

For the full story see the September 12 edition of the Biggleswade Chronicle.