PLANS for wind farms in north Suffolk have taken a further blow with a farming family withdrawing from a second scheme.Proposals by Ipswich-based Saxon Windpower to erect up to ten 100-metre turbines at St James South Elmham were abandoned ten days ago after farmer Andrew Hadingham bowed to strong local pressure not to allow his land to be used.

PLANS for wind farms in north Suffolk have taken a further blow with a farming family withdrawing from a second scheme.

Proposals by Ipswich-based Saxon Windpower to erect up to ten 100-metre turbines at St James South Elmham were abandoned ten days ago after farmer Andrew Hadingham bowed to strong local pressure not to allow his land to be used.

Now his brother, Mark, has confirmed the family is also withdrawing from a scheme to build six 120-metre high turbines on the old Flixton Airfield – two miles north of St James in the parishes of St Peter South Elmham, Ilkestshall St Margaret and Flixton itself.

This project may still go ahead because two other landowners remain involved in talks with developer, Enertrag UK, and the exact siting of the wind farm has not been decided.

Mark Hadingham, of Retreat Farm, Flixton, said the strong reaction against the wind power schemes had not been anticipated and it had been decided not to proceed further at this stage.

"The wind farm ideas have received a bad Press with all kinds of claims being made. People have been frightened and now is not the appropriate time to go forward," he said.

Wind turbine development might be considered in the future if the climate of public opinion changed, he added.

David Linley, project manager for Enertrag, said he was unaware of Mr Hadingham's decision but a meeting with him was scheduled for early January.

"We are looking at several schemes, with and without Mr Hadingham's land," he said.

Enertrag has other schemes at the planning stage, including a wind farm at North Pickenham, near Swaffham, which has attracted a positive response from local people.

Chris Staines, spokesman for Waveney Windpower Watch (WWW), the local protest group, said the disclosure of Mr Hadingham's withdrawal was "excellent news".

"The proposal was largely dependent on Mr Hadingham's land and we would assume that this puts that particular scheme in jeopardy.

"But we will not be resting on our laurels and we will be keeping the pressure up," he said.

WWW is opposing the Flixton wind power plan mainly on landscape grounds. It believes the development will damage views for local people and tourists.