CAMPAIGNERS look to have won the fight against a proposed wind farm in West Huntspill after the plans were thrown out by Secretary of State Eric Pickles.

An application by Ecotricity for four 120m turbines on land south of Poplar Farm, known as Black Ditch, was rejected by Sedgemoor councillors last April.

Ecotricity appealed against the decision but were told last Wednesday, February 26 that their appeal had been rejected.

Sedgemoor District Council successfully defended its reason for refusal which was on visual impact grounds, and the Secretary of State was particularly concerned about the views of the turbines within a 2km radius.

Julie Trott, a member of the Huntspill Wind Farm Action Group, which has been fighting against the plans, said: “It’s the best thing that could have happened.

“After such a long and hard battle I feel elated by the decision which we have been waiting so long to hear.”

The action group have been fighting the proposal for several years, and last year launched a blimp 400ft above West Huntspill with the simple message “NO” emblazed across it.

Ms Trott said: “The threat of having a wind farm imposed upon you, within less than 700 metres of your home is draining and soul destroying. This is the best news for the Huntspills and the Somerset Levels as a whole.”

Ian Liddell-Grainger, MP for Bridgwater, said: “It’s very good news, indeed, because it’s the right decision.

“It was in a ridiculous place and local people quite rightly have had their say.

“It’s a job well done and congratulations to all those people for keeping up the fight.”

Ecotricity has six weeks to make a High Court challenge against the Secretary of State’s decision if it feels sufficiently aggrieved and has valid grounds to do so.