A GOVERNMENT inspector was today making a final visit to the site in Edgworth of two proposed wind turbines before giving his verdict on the controversial plans.

The visit followed the end of a public inquiry into the plans which campaigners claim will lead to the loss of 5,000 square metres of land.

Legal representatives for the Edgworth Against Turbines group said the land, which was in a Biological Heritage Site, would be replaced with concrete paths and an access road to the site.

They also asked that the appeal be dismissed on the grounds that the planning application, for two 95-metre-high turbines at Uglow Farm, off Broadhead Road, did not include sufficient details of how the turbines would link up to the national grid sub-station in Haslingden.

But David Hardy, for appellants Julia and Angus Dootson, said that because the area in question was not classed as a sensitive area, the grid connection was the responsibility of the electricity supplier and therefore should not go against the appellants.

The protesters have campaigned for two-and-a-half years to stop turbines being erected at Uglow Farm as they believe they would harm the character of the moors.

Ruth Stockley, for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "This would significantly harm the important characteristics of this landscape. The site on the ridge line is in a highly prominent location."

A four-day inquiry was held in February and a closing day of submissions from both sides took place yesterday at the Barlow Institute, in the village.

Legal representatives for Mr and Mrs Dootson summarised why they believed the plans should go ahead and pointed out the importance of government targets towards renewable energy.

Mr and Mrs Dootson applied to install the turbines as part of a renewable energy scheme run by Cornwall Light Power but the plans were refused by the council in October 2004. The couple then appealed, which led to the inquiry.