A campaign against a wind turbine in fields behind High Royds in Menston could be given extra strength by new Government guidance.

Councillor Paul Wadsworth (Con, Guiseley and Rawdon) says the guidelines could give local people more of a say on proposals to build wind turbines or solar panels.

He welcomed the announcement from the Department for Communities and Local Government, which he says could mean local heritage and issues such as landscape are given more weight when a planning decision is made.

Coun Wadsworth, who is shadow executive board member for environmental services on Leeds City Council, believes the guidance could help to ensure new schemes will need approval from local residents.

He said: “In my ward we have had recent experience of, what are in my view, inappropriate applications to build wind turbines. Often they can spoil views or impact on the rural character of a local area.

“We have proposals for one in the High Royds area of Guiseley which could do exactly that and I am pleased that the Government is intervening to ensure that local people can have more of a say on these important local matters.

“I am not necessarily opposed to this type of energy generation, but it has to make sense both from an energy efficiency and CO2 reduction point of view as well as the environmental impact it might have on local communities and local heritage and landscape. While this guidance is aimed at larger scale wind farms and solar panels, I am hopeful that it will also influence those planning on delivering smaller scale schemes as well.”

An action group has been set up to fight plans for the turbine, which opponents say will be “industrial-sized.” Menston Against Wind Turbines says the 74-metre high turbine, proposed for land north of Hawksworth Quarry, will be twice the height of High Royds clock tower.

The group says 150 objections have been received against the scheme and it is encouraging people to continue to send in objections to Leeds City Council.