RISING 50m into the air, people travelling through Dunton today wondered what was being craned onto fileds on the horizon.  

It turned out to be the column of a wind turbine that was put up on green belt land near Laindon.

The huge white structure was hitched into place on farmland off Lower Dunton Road, Dunton, just over the border into Brentwood borough this afternoon.

Echo:

Appeared: The 50m-high structure went up on farmland today

Next it will get its 30-metre blades and once finished could provide 1,000,000 kilo watt hours a year, which could power around 250 homes.

Danny Lovey, a campaigner against plans for around 6,000 homes being built across the border of Basildon and Brentwood, knows as Dunton Garden Suburb, described it as a "blot on the landscape".

He said: "I have taken a look this afternoon and it clearly is a wind turbine being erected on Dunton Hills Farm.

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Turbine: How structure is likely to look once finished

"It is a 'blot on the landscape' and Brentwood Council clearly has no idea what is or was going on when they proposed the Dunton Garden Suburb.

"I wonder if Brentwood Council consulted Basildon Council on this when the planning application came in as it is only yards from the Basildon border with Brentwood?" The turbine got planning permission from Brentwood last year.

Echo:

Up close: Crane being dwarfed by the new tower

Arable farmer and Dunton Hills Golf Club owner Peter Dunne who is behind it wants to help save on energy bills at the club in Tilbury Road.

There was widespread opposition when the plans were submitted.

Mr Dunne was today unavailable for comment, but his mother, speaking from the farm, said: "We have got full planning permission."

Previously responding to concerns, Mr Dunne said he would only put up one turbine and not a wind farm.