WIND farm objectors who thought they had won their fight against plans to re-power Caton Moor with larger turbines may be forced to think again.

Planners are being asked to reconsider a bid by Hainsford Energy (Caton Moor) to replace 10 turbines with eight larger ones.

They rejected the application by nine votes to eight in September, claiming other locations should be considered to establish whether re-powering the wind farm, at Littledale, was the best option.

Now the developers have risen to the challenge and submitted a study of potential alternatives.

It compares wind speeds, access, visibility and electrical connections at 11 sites including Scout Hill and Nanny Hall near Kirkby Lonsdale.

The report says both sites would be more visible than Caton Moor, would have slower wind speeds and would need quarry stone to be imported.

Other sites include Oswaldtwistle Moor, near Accrington, and Shore Moor, Whitworth.

The study finds that re-powering Caton Moor would 'produce more output and be the best and most economic solution to generating additional wind energy'.

Lancaster City Council's head of planning and building control Andrew Dobson told the Citizen this week: "We are duty bound to put the matter back to committee but we wouldn't ask it to consider new information until any third party, such as objectors, have had the chance to make further comments."

Hainsford Energy's plans attracted opposition from groups such as Friends of Lakeland and Lunesdale Scenery and The Ramblers Association.

Graham Ranson, of Caton Green, said the proposed turbines were 'twice the height of Nelson's Column' and out of character with the area.

But supporters claimed the benefits of clean energy outweighed disadvantages.

Julian Carter, of Renewables North West, says the region has a legal obligation towards producing 10 per cent of energy from renewable sources.

"I feel passionately that Caton Moor re-powering is part of a jigsaw of projects that will help the region achieve that target," he says.

"There is already a wind farm there and the marginal extra visibility impact compared with the fact it will quadruple the output of the site is a strong argument."

o Members of the public can inspect the study at Palatine Hall, Dalton Square, and make further comments before the case returns to the city's planning committee.