Derbyshire Ramblers' Association has condemned the decision by the Peak District National Park Authority's planning committee to accept the application for the 9.7m structure on the National Trust's Longshaw Estate.

Members believe the wind turbine will have an impact on the look of White Edge Moor, which is used by hundreds of walkers.

John Riddall, countryside secretary for the association, said: "It is astonishing that the National Trust should have applied for permission. It is even more astonishing that the park's planning committee should vote for the application to be approved."

If the plans go ahead, the turbine would be situated close to the White Edge Lodge, a grade II listed building, and would be within the Eastern Peak District Moors Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The application was approved by the authority's planning committee despite recommendations from planning officers to refuse the plans and an objection by Grindleford Parish Council.

Mr Riddall added: "We would describe it as a betrayal of all that the National Park is intended to stand for."

The plans will now have to go to a full authority meeting later this month for a final decision.

A spokesman for the Peak District National Park Authority said: ''Any applications to introduce wind turbines in the national park are considered on a case-by-case basis.

"Members have a difficult balancing act as they have to consider on one hand the authority's purpose of protecting and enhancing the countryside and, on the other, the general desire to introduce renewable energy schemes whenever possible."

'No objections'

He added that no objections were received from Natural England or the Friends of the Peak District.

He said: "On balance, planning officers recommended that the application be refused but, by a five to four margin, members of the planning committee felt that the benefits of introducing a renewable energy scheme outweighed the concerns over the visual impact."

The Ramblers' Association will be writing to all authority members before the final decision on whether construction of the turbine can go ahead is made on May 23.


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