PLANS to build five wind turbines on land between Coleshill and Watchfield have divided communities in the area.

While some residents say the turbines would spoil their view, others are in favour because the turbines would generate so-called green electricity.

Each turbine would be 265ft high and 203 ft wide, making them the biggest in the country to be grouped together.

Spread across 750 metres of a now disused airfield, they would create enough electricity to power more than 1,000 homes.

Though the proposed site is miles from the nearest residential developments and farms, the size of the turbines means they would certainly have on impact on the landscape.

Residents from Little Coxwell, Great Coxwell, Longot, Watchfield, Shrivenham, Highworth and Coleshill met to discuss the issue last night.

The public meeting was called by farmer Adam Twine, the man behind the plans.

David North, 42, lives at Castle Farm, just 500 metres from the proposed site.

He was originally in favour of the plans when they were first submitted to Vale of White Horse District Council in 1995.

But he says amendments made in 1999, to allow planning for bigger turbines, have blown the project out of context with its surroundings.

He said: "The turbines have grown out of all proportion and my primary concern is that they will be a blot on the beautiful landscape."

He said the turbines would be within 1,000 metres of meadows marked a sight of special historic interest and valuable wildlife areas.

Mr North also claims that the turbines, which would be linked to the National Grid, are not an effective means of producing electricity.

Richard Hurford, 52, farm manager at Penny Hooks Farm, agrees.

He is part of a newly formed committee group called VEX, which stands for Vale Environmental Concerns.

Mr Hurford said: "We want to know why the environmental impact of these turbines was not assessed before planning permission was granted.

"It will amount to visual pollution."

Mr Twine told the meeting that the turbines would in fact benefit the community.

He said they would have less of an impact on the area than other means of generating electricity.

"The visual impact is like paying the price now rather than leaving future generations to pick up the pieces," he said.

Mr Twine, 40, said he submitted an application for bigger turbines because it would then make the site eligible for a Community Scheme.

He told the meeting that shareholders could invest money in the turbines and reap the dividends.

Mr Twine denied launching the project for financial gain.

He said it was 'for the community' and added that he had also campaigned against nuclear energy.

A final decision will be made when the plans go before the committee at the Vale of White Horse District Council on December 3.

Mr Twine is inviting people to inspect the site between 9am and 10am tomorrow morning.