A GOVERNMENT inspector was today making a final visit to the site of two proposed wind turbines before making a decision on whether or not they can be erected.

The inspector's visit follows the end of a public inquiry into the plans for two 95-metre-high turbines at Uglow Farm, off Broadhead Road, Edgworth.

Julia and Angus Dootson applied for permission to install the turbines as part of a renewable energy scheme run by Cornwall Light Power. But the plans were refused by Blackburn with Darwen Council in October 2004, because of their size and the adverse impact on the character and landscape of the area.

The couple then appealed, which led to the public inquiry being held.

Protesters believe the wind turbines would harm the look of the moors.

Ruth Stockley, acting on behalf of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "The site on the ridge line is in a highly prominent location.

"This would introduce vertical features which would project into the open sky line which would interrupt the views."

Campaigners say the plans would also lead to the loss of 5,000 square metres of land.

Legal representatives acting on behalf of Edgworth Against Turbines said land, which is 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 did not include sufficient details of how the turbines would link up to the national grid sub-station in Haslingden.

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

Arguments on behalf of the Dootsons also stressed the importance of government renewable energy targets.

The public inquiry had opened with a four-day hearing in front of a government inspector in February.

A day of closing submissions from both sides took place yesterday at the Barlow Institute in Edgworth.

The government inspector will announce his decision at a later date.