A group of rural champions has vowed to continue the fight against what they call the “vandalism” of Craven’s landscape.

The Craven branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) says it is committed to helping protest groups battle against “inappropriate” wind farms and “speculative” housing developments in sensitive areas.

Members and friends of the CPRE have enjoyed a day out with a journey by steam train to Bolton Abbey and a walk to Addingham via the Devonshire Arms Hotel, Lob Wood and Chelker Reservoir, ending at Farfield Quaker Meeting House.

There, cheques for £500 each were presented by the CPRE to the Friends of Craven Landscape to help finance their legal costs in fighting an appeal against a wind farm at Brightenber Hill, near Gargrave, and to the South Craven Residents’ Action Group to pay for planning advice in its battle to protect the fields around Green Lane, Glusburn, from developers.

Peter Rigby, from the CPRE, said: “Battles with those who attempt to vandalise Craven’s landscape with speculative housing estates and inappropriate wind farms will continue and will be ramped up by all the protest groups across Craven now working together inside the CPRE’s recently created ‘Housing Tent’.”

The CPRE says six planning applications are currently being challenged: two between Hellifield and Long Preston, Elsey Croft in Skipton, Green Lane, Glusburn, Ings Lane, Settle, and Acre Mill, Cowling.

The organisation said it was delighted to see the coalition Government’s decision to scrap the housing quotas imposed on Craven District Council and also the closure of the Infrastructure Planning Commission, both of which it claims were serious threats to local democracy.

CPRE now expects Craven District Council to grasp this new opportunity to decide its own housing and energy needs in full consultation with residents and other local groups.

Hilary Fenten, chairman of the Craven CPRE, said: “We will continue to champion biodiversity in Craven, future food needs via Craven farmers and green energy solutions via less consumption from street and highway lighting, all of which will contribute to reducing climate change.