PROPOSALS have been drawn up by Whitefield Golf Club to put up a wind turbine on land near the M60 motorway.

But no formal planning application has yet been submitted for the 30-metre tall turbine, which would stand 45 metres when the rotator blade is fully extended.

The club, based off Higher Lane, held public meetings on March 2 and on May 11 to outline the proposal and the issue was raised at a meeting of Whitefield and Unsworth Township Forum last week.

One Park Lane resident expressed concern that the turbine would be too tall and noisy and would not be suitable for green belt land.

Councillor Robert Caserta said: "At this stage, it is only an idea.

"In order to go ahead with this proposal, the club would have to submit a planning application to Bury Council and that has not yet happened.

"If they do, the council would make a decision on the basis of that application, and that application only, so I think the key message is — wait and see."

The forum's chairman, Cllr David Jones, also advised neighbours to wait for formal plans to be tabled.

After the meeting, the club’s captain Gordon Dresser, said a planning application could be submitted in the next couple of weeks and that the club had made every effort to work with Bury Council in advance of the application to ensure the plan meets council policy.

He added: "The club is not exactly flush with funds and this turbine would help ensure the club can remain.

"If the club were to close, then we could be faced with a much bigger issue in terms of what might happen to the land."

The club estimates the turbine would pay for itself within five years.

Its website reads: "The nearest property to the site of the turbine would be 280 metres away.

"The sound level at the nearest property would be roughly the equivalent of halfway between a person whispering and the noise a home computer would generate.

"The turbine would generate enough energy each year to provide 134 homes with electricity.

"The Whitefield Community Trust would be established if the proposal to build the wind turbine is accepted.

"Ten per cent of the net cash flow generated by the wind turbine will be donated to the trust each year.

"Local non-profitable organisations and charities will be able to apply to the trust for funding."