A GROUP of campaigners has called for the public to back them as the date of an inquiry into a wind farm extension nears.

Kirkby Moor Protectors (KMP) will present evidence against granting planning approval to Ventient Energy to extend the lifespan of 12 turbines between Broughton and Ulverston.

In December last year, South Lakeland District Council denied the company permission to extend the lifespan of the wind farm until 2027 with six councillors to five voting to block the proposal.

But the company appealed the decision, saying continued use of the turbines would be beneficial to the community and the country's green energy sector

A spokeswoman for KMP said: “Having giant turbines or even allowing the old ones to continue on the moor would seriously weaken the strongest arguments (landscape value and national park proximity), we have against the proposed Moorside giant pylons.

“A lot of money and energy is being poured by the windfarm company in trying to win this appeal. To counter this, a group of local volunteers have come together to put the case for the community at the inquiry, alongside experts.

“This is not a campaign against wind power but about wind farms being in an appropriate position. Kirkby Moor is no longer an appropriate place for these out-of-date machines.”

A spokesman for Ventient Energy told The Mail upon the news of its appeal: "The current layout and size of turbines would remain unchanged and the wind farm would look the same.The application was recommended for approval by the Planning Officer and there were no objections to the application from the Lake District National Park Authority and Natural England."

The public inquiry will be held at the Coronation Hall, Ulverston, from January 22 next year.