A resounding no has been given to plans to build five wind turbines on countryside near Dover.

Objectors to Ecotricity’s proposals packed into the district council chamber to hear the planning committee discuss the controversial application.

More than 800 protest letters were sent to the council and Langdon Action Group, set up earlier this year to fight the plans, has repeatedly condemned the 120m maximum height of the structures.

After just under an hour, councillors decided they were against any move to build the turbines near the village of Langdon.

Dr Andrew Richardson said it would be outrageous for such large structures to be seen in such an important landscape.

Former Sandwich Mayor Cllr Bernard Butcher agreed and added that it was beyond comprehension to build turbines in the most beautiful countryside in the whole of Kent.

He added: “Offshore would be the best place for these wretched things.”

Cllr Trevor Bond said no consideration had been given to people living in villages in the area of the proposed windfarm and Cllr Mark Furnival said the nearest house to a turbine would be only 350m away.

The councillors condemned Ecotricity for not replying to requests from planning officers for more information and turning down an opportunity to speak at the meeting.

As the application was not sorted within the statutory 16 weeks, an appeal had already been lodged against non-determination and the plans are now expected to go to a public inquiry.

Councillors agreed that if they had been given the opportunity to discuss the application within the time, they would have turned down the proposals.

Their reasons included the turbines being contrary to a long list of planning policies, including being a severe and adverse impact on the landscape.