ULVERSTON Town Council has given its recommendation for approval for new flats, a new restaurant and the continued use of 12 wind turbines.

At its September meeting, the majority of the council voted in favour of controversial plans for 18 affordable apartments at Ulverston's former town hall.

The plans have been met with concern from the Ulverston Zone A Residents Association, which believes the new homes are a recipe for 'rowdy parties and antisocial behaviour'.

Meanwhile plans to keep the turbines at Kirkby Moor Wind Farm turning for a further eight years were recommended for approval at Monday night's meeting. 

The wind farm, two kilometres south-easy of Grizebeck, is due to reach the end of its 25-year permitted life in August 2018.

London-based Zephyr Investments is seeking consent from South Lakeland District Council to keep the turbines in situ until March 2027, followed by another year to de-comission the site. 

And changes to the former HSBC bank, situated on New Market Street, to be turned into a restaurant, wine bar, brasserie and offices were also given the council's seal of approval.

However, the council unanimously agreed not to recommend a new 17.5m mobile mast for approval.

The application for the mast has been made by communications giant Vodafone and would be on the adopted footway on the north side of Oakwood Drive.

Following the meeting Councillor Norman Bishop-Rowe told the Gazette that the mast would be too close to homes and Croftlands Junior School, as well as in the way of those using the footpath.

"Within 70 foot of a house there would be this mast," he said. "And you are looking at it. It's within 200m of a primary school.

"Not good."

However, as part of documents submitted to South Lakeland District Council, Vodafone said that the site had been chosen after an 'exhaustive search' and to 'minimise any impact of the visual amenity of the area'.