PLANS to replace a 27m wind turbine with a much larger for Lifton Farm Shop have provoked opposition from some residents who say it will dominate the landscape.

But the owners of the business say the new 77m turbine would wipe out an electricity bill of £40,000 and safeguard 40 jobs.

The company's first turbine was erected about a year ago but it has submitted a new application for a larger structure 190 metres from the A30 dual carriageway.

Among the objectors is MABRAKE, a group campaigning against wind turbines in the Milton Abbot, Bradstone and Kelly areas of West Devon which says the turbine will be visible from a large area.

David Gynn from the organisation said: 'We are opposing this for two reasons, one being the visual impact on the landscape. This turbine will be visible from a very large area around Lifton, including parts of the Milton Abbot/Kelly parishes and the Lyd Valley. It will be another blot on the landscape.

'We are also concerned about the lack of any policy from West Devon Borough Council to restrict the creeping industrialisation of our countryside with the installation of large wind turbines and solar farms.'

Resident Chris Burchell claimed the turbine would be a distraction to motorists, particularly those using the eastbound carriageway as it would appear directly in front of the drivers as they descended the hill from the Launceston bypass.

'The turbine, by its scale, will be intrusive on long views from Dartmoor National Park,' said Chris Burchell.

But William Andrews, who lives just over the border in Maxworthy, has written to the borough council, supporting the application.

He said: 'In future, demand for energy may outstrip supply without more local generation and exploitation of renewable energy resources.'

Adam Mounce, whose family runs Lifton Farm Shop, said there were hopes that the larger wind turbine could supply all the power for the business.

He said the company already had an existing planning permission for a second turbine the same height as the current one but a larger one would be more efficient.

He said:?'We want to be 100% self-sufficient. Our electricity bill is more than £100 per day but in five to ten years that could be £150 or £200 so we are looking to the future.

'We believe this is the way forward for ourselves and customers who would like to see us running the business in an environmentally friendly way.'

Mr Mounce said Lifton Farm Shop currently employed 40 members of staff and hoped to expand in the future. The wind turbine plans were part of that.