Plans to erect a 15-metre high wind turbine in open countryside near Bradley have been rejected.

Members of Craven District Council’s planning committee turned down the scheme at Sirebank House, on Jackson’s Lane, despite officers recommending approval.

A previous application was also refused because of “its adverse impact on the surrounding countryside in relation to its location”.

The latest scheme attracted six letters of objection, which were mainly concerned with the visual impact, and there was one letter of support.

In a report to the planning meeting, officers said the turbine had a lifespan of 20 years and, with appropriate conditioning and siting, the perceived detrimental short-term effects could be negated.

“It is considered that the visual impact of the turbine will be acceptable to those residents nearby as the structure is lightweight and has several telegraph poles that are 9.6 metre high in the surrounding field which will give it perspective.”

The officers also said planning policies required members to balance the impact on the landscape against the need to provide renewable energy sources. In this case, the officers said, the impact on the landscape of the proposed development was not considered to be great enough to outweigh the objectives of providing a natural source of power.