THE MUCH anticipated public inquiry into plans to build the biggest windfarm in England near Tebay could be put back until the autumn after objecting councils said they needed more time to scour highly technical environmental documents.

A "consortium" of Cumbria County Council, Eden District Council, South Lakeland District Council, the Lake District National Park Authority and Yorkshire Dales National Park requested a one-month or autumn adjournment into West Coast Energy's highly controversial plans to build 27 turbines, each standing taller than St Paul's Cathedral, on the fells at Whinash.

They argued that more time was needed to sift through the technical document they are set to receive from renewable energy company WCE on February 14 and formalise a response before all proofs of evidence were handed over to the planning inspector on March 18.

The request was made at a second pre-inquiry meeting held at Shap Wells Hotel on Monday in preparation for the full public inquiry earmarked for April 19.

"A month is just not long enough for us to absorb the information and then formalise a response and argument in time for the proof of evidence deadline," said CCC spokesman Justin Hawkins.

"We have asked for this adjournment in good faith because this document contains really serious technical information."

Steve Molloy, WCE's project manager for the £55 million project, said the company had been busy consulting environmental groups and discussing their concerns over the development in preparation for publishing the document.

But he appeared confident that the adjournment would be refused by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Secretary of State for the Department of Trade and Industry and Defra, who will consider the request and are expected to make a decision at the end of next week.

"There have been similar inquiries into windfarms in Kent and Cheshire where councils have asked for an adjournment for the same reasons and have been refused it," he said.

Mr Molloy also confirmed that the inquiry would cost WCE in the region of £500,000.

Speaking after the meeting, No To Whinash Windfarm and FELLS spokesman Kyle Blue said the groups were confident of victory.

"We are looking forward to working with other objectors to defeat the proposals at public inquiry," he said.