Councillors have allowed a 100ft wind turbine on the green belt despite being advised to refuse it.
A proposal to build one turbine at a farm off Wakefield Road, Grange Moor, was deemed inappropriate development by planning officers.
The plan for Heights Farm, adjacent to Rockwood garden centre and Orlando’s restaurant, attracted many complaints from local residents, several of whom spoke against it at Kirklees Heavy Woollen planning sub-committee.
Ray Franks, a Kirkburton Parish councillor, spoke on behalf of villagers,
He said there were 1,500 letters of complaint about the plan and claimed the turbines spoiled the views.
Councillors heard the turbine would be the 15th in the area and the cumulative impact was too great.
But a spokesman for the farm said the turbine would offset 44 homes worth of electricity and was the smallest turbine available.
Clr Cathy Scott said she was “torn” over the proposal.
“We should support sustainable growth and expansion of farm businesses,” she said.
“They are having to diversify and we’ve already supported ten other turbines in this area.”
Clr Andrew Pinnock said the turbine application hadn’t been given “fair wind” and pointed out four other turbines of the same height had already been allowed.
But Clr Nigel Patrick said he did not believe the estimates of electricity savings.
“I don’t think it will produce hardly any energy at all,” he said.
But a move to overturn planning officers’ advice was backed, allowing the wind turbine plan to go ahead.
