Campaigners fighting the installation of a wind turbine in their community were celebrating yesterday after planning permission for the structure was refused.

Babergh District Council planners decided the build should not go ahead at Pannington Hall Farm, Wherstead, following the recommendation to refuse the permission for the turbine made by its planning officer.

David Baldrey, the chairman of Wherstead Parish Council, said opponents of the plans were happy with the decision but thought the company behind the plans, Pertnership for Renewables (PfR) would appeal against it.

“We joined forces with other parish councils and got together to pool our resources and form our objections,” he said.

“We are happy that Babergh has gone along with the way we thought about it (the proposal).”

A spokesman for PfR said: “We felt the site was appropriate for the single turbine we were proposing and the council’s reasons for refusing the scheme were unreasonable and not based on solid evidence.

“Once we have received the written decision notice, we will take a decision on whether to appeal the refusal.”