BUSINESSMAN Robert Knox is hoping to do his bit for climate change by erecting a wind turbine on the patio of his Babbacombe house.

But his plan for the 9.5metre-high turbine in the garden of his home in Redgate Close, Babbacombe, has caused a stir with neighbours.

Planners will decide on Monday whether to allow Mr Know to install the turbine and generate his own electricity.

The free-standing turbine's six blades would be two metres in diameter.

Mr Knox said his wind turbine was the most hi-tech on the market and would not have a great impact on the neighbourhood.

The property landlord, who owns a number of social flats in Torbay and Totnes, said the time to do something about climate change and reducing our carbon footprint was now.

He added: "Mother Earth needs help and we are all duty bound to do so."

However, many letters of objection have been received by Torbay planners expressing concerns about the impact the turbine would have on neighbours' lives.

Mr Knox said: "This wind turbine is based on second-generation design technology and will produce enough power to supply all the lighting and heating requirements of my property while also exporting energy to the national grid.

"The site is ideally suited for this type of micro turbine because it has an average wind speed of five miles per second and the turbine requires only 3.2 miles per seconds to begin power generating.

"The noise will be no greater than the wind that is driving the unit."

He added: "It's no good burying one's head in the sand and accepting that something needs to be done about climate change but not in my backyard.

"Concerns have been raised about the visual impact and noise issue of the turbine but this should not be an overriding factor when the application is considered."

However, nearby residents fear the turbine could be the first of many and would have a dramatic impact on their environment.

Bill Leedham, from Lyme View Road, Babbacombe, said: "The proposed turbine would constitute a major alteration to the character of the residential area and encourage further applications of similar nature, leading to a significant degradation of the environment.

"There has to be a balance struck between the benefits gained and the effect that widespread developments of the kind proposed would have on residential areas."

Janet Cooper, also of Lyme View Road, also objected to the turbine saying it would create noise pollution, would cause a disturbance at night through light flicker, would be a danger to birds and would be 'harmful to the character and appearance of the area'.

Albert Rainbow, also of Lyme View Road, said: "It would be an eyesore."

Planning officers are recommending the application is conditionally approved.