THE winds of change are unlikely to blow through Barnoldswick just yet after plans for the town's first wind turbine were turned down.

As reported in last week's Craven Herald, applicant Alistair Dolan had requested planning permission to put up a 62-foot turbine on his land near Weets Hill.

Mr Dolan said the device would have provided power both for his Edge Lane home and the wider network with a minimal impact on the landscape, thanks to its siting in a natural dip.

Pendle Borough Council's planning officers also recommended the turbine proposal for approval, saying that its impact on the landscape and local wildlife was completely acceptable.

However, although plans for a building which was part of the same application were approved at a meeting of West Craven Committee on Tuesday night, the wind turbine was turned down.

Several people turned out to speak against the proposal, including keen fell walker Michael Meath.

He said he had been enjoying the landscape around Weets Hill for 30 years and the turbine would have a "disastrous" effect.

He also said that approving the plans would set a precedent and claimed that several nearby landowners had expressed an interest in erecting their own turbines if the application was successful.

He said: "This is Barlick's last wild area. It will be a complete blot on the landscape. Wind farms are all right in their place but this is the wrong place.

"And how much electricity is it going to save? And I don't mean to get personal but why do people in half a million-pound houses need to save money? It is so, so wrong."

Mr Meath added that the turbine would be in the flightpath of several different types of birds, although council planning officer Janet Filbin said there was no evidence to support this claim.

The scheme was defended by a relative of Mr Dolan, who said that the location at Far Newfield Edge Farm was not on the crest of a hill and the turbine would not be visible from a distance.

But Coun Allan Buck, who as a resident of Esp Lane lives near the proposed site, said he had "grave doubts" about its viability and proposed refusal of the turbine plan on the basis of its "detrimental visual impact".

He said that the views around Weets needed to be preserved, adding: "It's not just an ordinary piece of land - it's a special piece of land."

Coun Buck's argument was supported by Coun David Whipp, who said that, in the event of an appeal: "Planning inspectors who go up there on a day like today will agree that it's a view worth saving."

Coun Whipp said that even if the turbine's blades stayed below the horizon from most vantage points in Barnoldswick, its constant rotation would still constitute an eyesore.

Other councillors supported Coun Buck's motion to grant permission for a garage and workshop, which formed part of the same application, but reject the installation of the wind turbine using planning conditions.

Mr Dolan was unavailable for comment this week but speaking to the Herald last Wednesday, he said that he wanted to use the naturally strong winds around his home to feed green energy back into the national grid.

Mr Dolan also said he was planning to hold an open day to allow people to see the turbine close up if the application proved successful.