A GROUP of parish councillors who own land near to the site of a proposed wind farm will be allowed to debate and vote on the subject.Members of the Suffolk Coastal District Council standards committee agreed last night that the five Parham councillors should have an input into the matter – despite laws which would normally prohibit it because of their 'prejudicial interest.

A GROUP of parish councillors who own land near to the site of a proposed wind farm will be allowed to debate and vote on the subject.

Members of the Suffolk Coastal District Council standards committee agreed last night that the five Parham councillors should have an input into the matter – despite laws which would normally prohibit it because of their 'prejudicial interest.'

Jane Bradshaw, David Friend, Alan Gray, Andrew Nicholson and Richard Perry Donsworth were all granted special dispensation at last night's meeting.

The group, who make up five of the seven members of the parish council, applied for dispensation in relation to plans for a wind turbine farm at Parham Airfield.

Bruce Laws, monitoring officer for Suffolk Coastal, said last night: "The committee have agreed the dispensation, which does not technically remove the interest.

"The councillors will still have to declare their interest, but the dispensation means that they can continue to speak and vote on matters affecting the potential windfarm.

"The committee felt that, if they were to refuse the dispensation, it would in effect disenfranchise

the parish councillors and the village voice which comes from them."

Saxon Windpower is proposing to build up to six 100-metre turbines on the Second World War Airfield, which could generate energy for up to 6,770 homes.

The plans have been met with scorn by some locals, who have created the pressure group 'No Windfarm at Parham', or NOWAP.

Saxon Windpower is due to hold an exhibition about the proposed development at Parham Airfield tomorrow.