A Pembrokeshire County Council decision to turn down a planning application for a 72-metre high turbine in the south of the county is being challenged at an appeal today (Wednesday).

The proposal for the turbine at Hill Farm, Ludchurch was put forward by Mr L. Williams and was recommended by officers for approval when it went before the authority’s planning and rights of way committee last July.

But members decided to make a site inspection, following which they turned the plan down.

At the time, the chairman of the Pembrokeshire branch of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales, Mary Sinclair, pointed out the ‘overbearing impact’ that the structure - 72 metres to its blade tip - would have on homes as close as 365 metres away, and a ‘dominant’ impact on the hamlet of Princes Gate.

She commented that the maximum electricity output that the turbine could produce was half a megawatt, and added: “The damage this turbine will do to people’s lives far outweighs any contribution to renewable energy it will make.”

The appeal will be heard by an inspector appointed by the Planning Inspectorate in Narberth Rugby Club at 10am today, Wednesday, May 28.