Copmanthorpe wind mast plan turned down
An application to erect a wind monitoring mast on agricultural land at a village near York has been refused.
City of York councillors described it as an inappropriate development for green belt land and turned down the application by Banks Renewables.
The company had hoped to put a 70m (229ft) test mast up at Copmanthorpe where it plans five wind turbines.
Council officers had recommended approval despite opposition from a number of local residents.
The temporary monitoring mast was designed to enable Bank Renewables to assess wind speeds in the area ahead of a full planning application for up to five turbines.
More than 500 letters of objection were received by the local authority.
The nine-member planning committee described the application as inappropriate and said it would have a detrimental impact on the area.
Phil Dyke, development director at Banks Renewables, said the company was disappointed by the decision given that council officers recommended approval.
Mr Dyke added: "We will now await confirmation of the exact reasons for this decision before deciding on our next steps."