A HEARING to decide whether wind turbines can be built near Gargrave ended as the Government announced a change in policy regarding onshore wind farms.

The two-day public hearing into the building of three, 328ft (100 metre) turbines at Brightener Hill ended hours before the Government announced future wind farms would only go ahead with the support of local communities.

It also announced an end to subsidies paid to renewable energy companies from April next year.

Planning Inspector Mike Robins, who spent the second day carrying out an extensive site visit, invited Craven District Council, pressure group, Friends of Craven Landscape and appellants, EnergieKontor (EK), to comment on the policy change.

It is not known how long he will take to announce his decision, but the previous inspector took more than a year, while the one before took just eight weeks.

EK, which had successfully challenged the second appeal decision that had supported refusal, argued following the removal of two of the original five turbines from the plans, the application should be allowed.

In a written statement to the hearing, Professor Glyn Turton, former chairman of Craven Action for Renewable Energy (CARE), who now lives in Baildon, said he had supported the application from the start in 2008 and remained in favour.

He added: "I recognise the chief focus of the appeal is likely to be upon the living conditions and interests of those living closest to the site.

"Nevertheless, this is a case in which the wider public interest weighs heavily, and I think it important the voice of those in support, on the grounds of its contribution to the cause of sustainable development, is heard."

Chris Emmett, FoCL spokesman, said everyone who spoke from the local community had voiced their total opposition.

"From now on, local opinions will count heavily in wind farm planning decisions," he said.

"Inspector Robins has asked the main parties to comment on the statement, and we’re confident he’ll take it into account. We don’t want to second-guess the appeal decision but we feel the hearing was conducted with scrupulous fairness.”

Skipton MP Julian Smith welcomed the Government announcement.

He said: "I am delighted the Government has listened to the concerns of communities like ours and brought forward proposals so quickly to put local communities back in the driving seat on wind farm applications.

"It is also a very welcome move that the huge subsides driving these applications are being cut."