BLAENAU Gwent council officials will meet the authority's barrister this month in preparation for a planning inquiry into a controversial Valleys windfarm, expected in the Spring.

At a meeting of the planning committee yesterday, councillors heard the council will meet its barrister at the end of November after an appeal from developers was recognised as valid.

The inquiry is expected in March or April, but a date is yet to be confirmed, and it is thought it will last between four and six days.

Pennant Wind Ventures launched the appeal after councillors threw out an application to build four 328-foot-high wind turbines on Mynydd James between Cwmtillery and Blaina, which went against the recommendation from officers.

The windfarm would generate 5.2 megawatts and provide £2 million in local construction contracts and £500,000 for community trust funds in its lifetime.

As reported in the Argus on Monday, more than 100 campaigners are fighting the plans and have set up a campaign group called Save Coity and Mynydd James (SCAM).

They have delivered leaflets, distributed posters and have set up a website and Facebook pages outlining their concerns at the possible development.

The main worries are the close proximity of the wind turbines to people's homes, around 0.6km, as well as the way they look, the possible negative impact on tourism and threat to wildlife.

SCAM is trying to raise £8,000 to employ environmental expert Geoff Sinclair from Pembrokeshire to represent them in the inquiry and the group is holding a meeting at Blaina Community Centre on November 10 at 7.30pm to discuss how to raise the £8,000.