Dozens of residents and groups made passionate pleas to planning inspector Ruth MacKenzie about Derbyshire Wind Energy's bid to build five 126-metre wind turbines at the controversial site.

Protesters for both sides said they were hopeful they had persuaded Mrs MacKenzie, as she reviewed the evidence before revealing her final decision in time for an April 30 deadline.

Action Against Matlock Moor Wind Farm Proposal, which raised £40,000 to pay for an expert barrister, was pleased with how the inquiry had gone.

Group member Jon McLeod said: "The issues were well-aired, which is extremely important given the adverse impact the development would have on tourism, jobs and the environment.

"What became clear is the application does not accord with planning policy and would do more harm than good."

Matlock Moor Wind Farm Support Group argued the wind farm would be an important boost to help the region hit carbon-reduction targets and that opponents' fears were unfounded.

Group member David Jones said: "We are very pleased to have been able to express what we believe to be the opinion of most local people – that this plan should be allowed to go ahead.

"We don't believe the case the councils presented was at all compelling, on the landscape debate or on any other aspect. We are optimistic the scheme will be given the go-ahead."

The inquiry was launched in July after North East Derbyshire and Derbyshire Dales district councils took too long to make a decision.

Both councils were joined by the Peak District National Park Authority in opposing the plans at the inquiry at Town Hall in Matlock.

The councils said in a statement: "These have been extremely complex applications covering a lot of specialist areas and have attracted hundreds of comments from a variety of interested parties across the community, as well as detailed comments from statutory consultees."