COUNTY chiefs have confirmed a blanket ban on wind farms on council land, despite strong protests from green campaigners.

They failed to persuade the Conservative-run county council to rethink the controversial new policy.

Tory council leader Cllr Ken Thornber rubberstamped the ban yesterday.

Environmentalists argued that it sent out a message that Hampshire did not support renewable energy, that wind farms created jobs and the income generated could help maintain frontline council services.

However Cllr Thornber said: “I take the view that while Hampshire should prosper it will not be at the cost of the environment.”

He said the ban did not mean the council had ruled out applications for individual turbines.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Adrian Collett, opposition spokesman for policy and resources, called for the council to produce evidence for the ban.

He said: “I find it very hard to believe that in a county the size of Hampshire there is nowhere suitable.”