THERE are many reasons why on-shore wind farms should be treated with suspicion, on economic as much as on environmental grounds, but the recent and apparently contentious application by Banks Renewables, which has caused such a stir, was not for the construction of a wind farm, but simply for the erection of a temporary wind monitoring mast.

Despite officers recommending approval, the planning committee decided to reject the proposal by an overwhelming majority. The reasons for the rejection were so insubstantial in planning terms that, should the applicant decide to appeal, he would almost certainly win and claim costs against the council, which would have to be paid by the council taxpayers. I, for one, strongly object to this.

Far be it from me to suggest that the committee was unduly influenced by the presence of hordes of well-organised objectors, as reported in the local press.

After all, they can only come to a decision based on careful and objective evaluation of the evidence, can’t they?

Philip Crowe, Clifton, York.