THE rejection of plans to build a single 68 metre (223ft) wind turbine close to the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has been welcomed by Craven Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).
The planned turbine at Englands Head Farm, Paythorne, near Clitheroe, was opposed by both Craven CPRE and Lancashire CPRE.
It has now been rejected on appeal to the planning inspectorate, made after Ribble Valley Borough Council failed to make a decision in the required time.
The council later indicated it would have refused the application anyway because of its impact on the landscape and setting of heritage assets.
In the decision notice, government inspector Bern Hellier, said any benefit to the farm would be outweighed by the "considerable harm' on the surroundings, including heritage assets.
Craven CPRE said the proposal would have had an adverse impact on the Craven landscape.
"While CPRE supports the use of renewable energy, the key issue in this case was that it would have had an unacceptable impact on the protected landscape of the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)," said its spokesman.
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