A CONTROVERSIAL wind farm site near Brent Knoll has been refused by the planning inspectorate.

A CONTROVERSIAL wind farm site near Brent Knoll has been refused by the planning inspectorate.

The controversial plans to build five wind turbines at a site off Stoddens Lane was rejected by planning inspector Robin Brooks today (Tues).

After months of waiting, residents in the village were pleased to hear that the application by Next Generation, a subsidiary of renewable energy company Ecotricity, to build the wind farm was rejected.

Proposals for the five turbines were first rejected by Sedgemoor District Council, but then the company decide to appeal the decision.

An inquiry was held at The Princess in Burnham in August 2007 where groups including Brent Knoll Parish Council and protest group kNOll to Wind Farm made representations opposing the project.

A Sedgemoor District Council spokesman said today: "The scheme particularly detracted from the village of Brent Knoll and The Knoll itself and the inspector rightly recognised this in his report.