A CONTENIOUS planning application for an 18.3m wind turbine on land at Withington near Chedworth has been refused.

Cotswold District Council’s planning committee refused the application by landowners Mr and Mrs Brenninkmeijer-McKenzie by eight votes to five at Wednesday's meeting after hearing concerns about the impact of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Withington Parish Council member Lady Mavis Dunrossil said objections by the council and residents were not down to NIMBYism.

“The parish is deeply alarmed at the implication for the conservation area and the AONB if this was allowed and the precedent it would set,” she said.

Resident Ron Storey said he and his neighbours felt the turbine, which would be within 500m of 19 listed buildings including a Grade I listed church, would have a devastating impact on the area.

“All the energy and financial benefit is gained by the applicant but the visual, architectural and environmental price is paid by everyone who loves this beautiful and supposedly protected area,” he said.

Cllr Joe Harris (Lib Dem, Park) said he was firmly in favour of renewable energy and was not convinced by arguments that tourism to the area would suffer as a result.

He said: “Will people stop visiting the Cotswolds because there are wind turbines here? I doubt it very much.”