A controversial wind turbine is set to be built despite more than 60 people signing a petition against it.

Residents petitioned against applicant EWH1s plans for the single 10KW wind turbine on a 15m monopole mast near Oswaldtwistle.

A further 47 letters of objection were received by Hyndburn council, citing grounds of the proximity to homes, adverse impact to green belt and on native geese populations and noise generation.

However councillors gave the go-ahead to the scheme at a planning committee meeting.

Ward councillor Peter Britcliffe said the borough is now in danger of becoming ‘Windmill City’.

Residents raised concerns over the impact on television reception, after turbines on Oswaldtwistle Moor affected local homes.

The nearest home to the new development is 180 metres away at Lower Spew Spout Farm.

In her objection letter to the council, householder Rose Aspin claimed the proximity of the cottage would see 40DB recommended noise limits exceeded. She wrote: “As one of the closest residents to the scheme my primary concern at this stage relates to noise from the proposed turbine.”

Councillor Joan Smith told the planning meeting the proposed site off School Lane in Guide is already blighted by an electricity pylon.

She added: “Also from a noise point of view it is next to the M65 so the noise from the traffic will be louder than the turbine.”

However Oswaldtwistle councillor Brian Roberts said: “We have already got the big development on top of the moors and it can be seen from virtually every angle in Oswaldtwistle and over half of Hyndburn.”

Planning agent Mick Coates told the Observer before the meeting the turbine was one of the smallest available, and claimed that more than half the objections were from residents more than 1km away from the scheme.

He said: “Of the 39 points they didn’t carry much weight in planning terms.

“That’s why it’s been recommended for approval.”