RESIDENTS and parish councillors are celebrating after an appeal against the refusal of a wind turbine was rejected.

The planning inspectorate has refused a plan for a 78-metre high wind turbine to be built on land at Willerby Pig Farm, Staxton, next to the A64.

The original application, which was submitted in October 2012, was met with concerns from residents and environmental groups regarding the size of the turbine and its impact on the landscape.

Following the refusal of the application by councillors at Ryedale District Council, an appeal was lodged by Willerby Wold Piggeries Ltd.

Pete Green, chairman of Willerby Parish Council, said the council was pleased with the dismissal of the appeal and said that the right decision had been made.

He said: “We are very pleased with the decision. We were not against them having a wind turbine, but it was the sheer size of it that was a concern for us. It was too big to be in keeping with the surroundings.”

In the report containing details of the appeal decision, planning inspector Louise Crosby said the main concerns regarding the development would be the visual impact it would have on the area and how it would alter the landscape.

She said: “Although the impact would be significant for only a short distance, it would nonetheless interrupt and, in my opinion, spoil thestunning views.”

She went on to say that although the wind turbine would have provided environmental benefits in terms of renewable energy, the benefits would be outweighed “by the significant detrimental effect the proposal would have on the character of the landscape and theappearanceand visual amenity of the area”. The turbine is the second to be rejected in recent months following the decision made by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to dismiss a planning appeal for a wind farm development of 10 turbines at East Heslerton in May.

David Hinde, who used to live in Scagglethorpe and regularly commutes along the A64, said that the landscape in Ryedale should remain unspoilt by wind turbines. He said: “I delight in driving through that beautiful landscape and the right decision was definitely made. Ryedale is such a traditional landscape and we would like it to remain that way.”