Credit:  By Andrew Robinson, Yorkshire Post, www.yorkshirepost.co.uk 24 June 2010

Plans for a wind farm on green belt land in West Yorkshire have been rejected by a Government Minister.

Wakefield Council had already turned down an application to build five wind turbines on land to the west of Westfield Lane at Darrington, near Pontefract.

The council's decision was challenged by applicant Banks Renewables and went to a public inquiry which culminated in a second rejection by a planning inspector.

The new Minister for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, has now backed the inspector's decision.

In a letter to Banks Developments, the Minister's officer Jean Nowak says the turbines would form an "alien" feature on the landscape.

"The Secretary of State agrees with the Inspector's conclusion that the proposal would adversely affect the landscape character of this area and would also have an unacceptable visual impact on the landscape."

Credit:  By Ellen Beardmore, Pontefract and Castleford Express, www.pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk 24 June 2010

Campaigners who staged a storm of protest against plans for a wind farm near Darrington are celebrating after the bid was blown away.

Communities secretary Eric Pickles announced yesterday that the initial rejection of Banks Renewables' bid for five 125ft turbines off Westfield Lane was to be upheld, and planning permission refused, after the developer appealed and took its proposals to a public inquiry in October.

Campaigners battled the plans for three years, raising thousands of pounds to fund their fight.

Tony Hames, chairman of Pontefract Wind Farm Action Group, said: "We all feel relieved.

"There are any people who have gone through a lot with this, it's taken a long time.

"As far as we're concerned we are just delighted the first decision has been upheld - we've got some loose ends to tie up but then we will celebrate.

"Everyone has been concerned about this and we've all stood together, we haven't given up."