By Sarah Nicholls

Last updated at 13:11, Wednesday, 11 July 2012

A temporary wind monitoring mast can be put up at High Scales, near Aspatria.

Allerdale council’s development panel approved plans by Empirica Investments Ltd for the 50m (165ft) mast at Prospect House.

The company has already lodged a screening opinion request in relation to a proposed turbine for the site.

Alan Keighley of Westnewton Action Group, which was set up to fight the Westnewton windfarm and now campaigns against other turbines in the area, said: “We all know full well it’s a precursor to a wind turbine.

“Any meteorological mast or turbine on this site will create a significant change to the landscape.”

He said there had been applications for 57 turbines in Allerdale so far this year.

But planning officers told councillors they could only judge the mast application on its own merits, not on the basis of a future application which may come before them later.

Phill Roberts of Bromfield parish council said there was significant local opposition to the plan.

Members voted eight in favour and five against with one abstention.

First published at 11:25, Wednesday, 11 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk