WIND turbines almost the size of the London Eye could be given the go-ahead in a month’s time.

The controversial plan to put three turbines at the Honda plant, in South Marston, will come before the council’s planning committee on July 12.

There has been a campaign against the proposals since they were unveiled last summer, and lobby group Ill Wind intends to fill the council chamber when it is debated.

The turbines are almost 400ft high – about one-and-a-half times the height of the David Murray John tower.

Ill Wind chairman Des Fitzpatrick, 64, of Thornhill Road, said: “We’re not opposed to wind turbines as such. Our objection is it’s too close to residential properties.

“When we went round with our petition it was about 80 per cent signing it, saying, ‘we’re objecting too’.

“I don’t think we are nimbys. Looking at the group, many people here are actively green. I’m a vegetarian, who cycles and gets the bus rather than taking a car.

“What we are concerned about is the health of the people in the surrounding area.”

He said the noise of the turbines and the flickering caused by their huge blades would disturb the sleep of residents in South Marston.

Andrew Davidson, 60, of Highworth Road, said: “We’re not against green energy. What we are against is huge structures being erected far too close to domestic residences.

“What needs to be understood is a wind turbine 120 metres high is basically a giant moving machine creating a lot of noise, vibrations, reflections, shadows that flicker. It also interferes with TV signals.”

The council’s planning officers are recommending that the scheme is approved and councillors are expected to go along with their opinion.

But after this week’s shock rejection of the Coate development, which saw councillors overrule officers’ advice, anything is possible, said committee chairman Coun Dale Heenan (Con, Covingham and Nythe).

“Honda is very important to Swindon and the town will do virtually anything for them,” he said.

“But are their plans for three wind turbines a step too far? That’ll be the debate for the next planning committee.”

Mike Cheshire, a spokesman for Ecotricity, the company behind the turbine plan, said: “There’s a range of opinions. We’ve been contacted by lots of people who are in favour of this.

“At the end of the day, every home and business uses energy, and we all have a say and responsibility in deciding where that comes from in the future.

“But this can make a very real contribution, not only to the amount of green energy there is in the UK.

“Every unit of green energy is one less that has to come from a traditional source.”

Paul Ormond, of Honda, said: “We’re still pursuing the matter. We’re hoping for a positive result.”