A PUBLIC inquiry is underway to decide whether a wind farm should be built on the Romney Marsh.

Energy company Npower renewables will put forward its case to erect 26 wind turbines at Little Cheyne Court, off the A259 past Brookland.

More than 60 members of the public, local organisations and parish council members packed into Lydd Airport on Tuesday for the opening.

Legal representatives from Npower renewables, English Nature and the RSPB, local authorities and The Romney Marsh Wind Farm Advisory and Action Group will put their evidence to a government planning inspector.

Developers claim the farm would provide enough electricity to power 75 per cent of homes in Shepway and the Marsh is one of the few suitable sites in the south east.

Speaking before the inquiry company secretary Simon Wells said: “This wind farm would make a significant contribution to reaching Government targets of providing renewable energy and will prevent harmful carbon dioxide being released.

“We realise there is some opposition to it but there is also a lot of local support. I am confident that our plans will stand up to rigorous scrutiny.”

Local residents and parish councils who oppose the plans formed The Romney Marsh Wind Farm Advisory and Action Group.

Group member and manager of a nature reserve on the Marsh Philip Merricks will give evidence in the inquiry.

He said: “We are representing the overwhelming concern of 16 parish councils, two town councils, and local people who want to fight for the wildlife and landscape of the Romney Marsh - we want to save the Marsh. It emerged in the first day of the inquiry that if the Government approved the application it will be breaking European laws that protect birds.“

Government environmental advisers English Nature have joined forces with the RSPB and will tell the inquiry how thousands of birds, including Bewick’s swans, would be killed by colliding with the 116m wind turbines.

RSPB regional director Chris Corrigan said: “The wind farm would cancel out 11 years of hard work spent creating rich feeding and roosting areas for more than 20,000 waterfowl and birds of prey.”

Shepway District Council, Kent County Council and East Sussex County Council have all refused the application. Shepway District Council spokesman Sarah Smith said: “Although the Marsh has been identified as a possible suitable site for a wind farm we are against the scale and scope of the plans for Little Cheyne Court.”

If the wind farm gets the go ahead it could be built within a year. The inquiry is expected to last about four weeks.