Internet commerce giant Amazon presented its case for a huge wind turbine at its Gablecross warehouse to residents of South Marston.

The company has been told that it must include a full environmental impact assessment with any formal application for planning permission for the 500-foot-high tower and turbine, which the company wants to use to help power its Swindon centre.

South Marston Parish Council invited the company to set out its proposals to residents in the village as part of its pre-application public consultation.

Amazon sent eight members of staff who explained to people dropping in that while there are some solar panels on its roof, most of the building is not suitable for panels, and the wind turbine is needed to make the fulfilment centre largely self-sufficient in energy.

Chairman of the parish council Colin McEwen said: “We are in favour of the use, in principle, of renewable energy.

“But it is a very big wind turbine, and it’s particularly big given it will be very close to one of the planned New Eastern Villages.

We are pleased that a full Environmental Impact Assessment report has been called for as part of any planning application.

“We will study that very closely as part of preparing our response to any application when it is submitted.”