An application to build a 74-metre wind turbine on green-belt land has been rejected.

Now the group set up to fight the proposal has thanked everyone who joined the battle to prevent the turbine being installed on land behind High Royds, Menston.

Menston Against Wind Turbines was formed to oppose siting the turbine on land north of Hawksworth Quarry.

Campaigners said the turbine, proposed by John Ogden, would have been twice the height of High Royds Clock Tower.

Now they have thanked planners who turned the application down on the grounds it would conflict with green-belt control and have a detrimental effect on the area.

Anne Barker and Jill Bateson, from the campaign group, said: “We thank the Leeds planners for listening to our concerns and for refusing to spoil the beautiful landscape we all love and cherish.”

They also stressed their gratitude for support they had received from residents, councillors and MPs, as well as WARD, Aireborough Forum and Menston Parish Council.

Guiseley and Rawdon councillor Paul Wadsworth, who had spoken out against the proposal, welcomed the decision but said he was concerned it had taken so long. He stressed he was not opposed to wind turbines, only when they were close to residential settlements and affected people’s lives.

“I am pleased that the Council made the right decision on that front,” he said.

“It has taken a long time to make this decision but we have got the right result in the end,” he said.

In a submission to Leeds City Council the scheme’s agents, AAH Planning Consultants, had said: “This proposal would directly accord with the principles behind the White Paper and the Renewable Energy Directive and would enable a local energy supply which would be entirely decentralised.”

The submission added: “The features of interest within the landscape which contribute most significantly to its character would remain unaffected.”