A COUNCIL decision to refuse plans for a wind turbine in Silsden have been challenged by the applicant.

Charles Ashton has lodged an appeal against the decision to refuse plans for a 49 metre high turbine at Jaytail Farm, off Holden Lane earlier this year. The reason for the refusal was because the site is greenbelt, and that the turbine would create an "incongruous and widely visible vertical element into this sensitive and highly prominent upland landscape."

The appeal, submitted to the secretary of state last week, says: "The limited footprint of the turbine will result in a negligible loss of land and no significant change to land use. The development will help diversify a rural business and support the wider economy. This weighs heavily in favour of our proposal."