OPPONENTS of a proposal to build three wind turbines on the edge of Dartmoor have reacted with dismay to news that an appeal has been lodged against the plans refusal in May. But campaigners say they are determined to continue to fight against any wind farm development abutting the moor. Members of West Devon Borough Council?s planning and licensing committee rejected the application in May but applicants West Coast Energy last week lodged an appeal with the planning inspectorate. The application is to erect three 81m high turbines, a sub-station, an anemometry mast to measure wind speed, access tracks and ancillary equipment on land at Yelland Farm to the west of the A386 on Bowerland Road, just over a kilometre from the boundary of Dartmoor National Park. It was rejected by nine votes to one on grounds of intrusive visual impact on the moor. Ray Quirke, of pressure group Okehampton and Dartmoor Against Wind Turbines (ODAT) pledged the group would continue to be ?passionately committed? in its fight against the scheme. The group met on Monday to consider its strategy following news of the appeal. Mr Quirke said there was a ?very determined? mood among committee members. He said: ?We all have nightmares, and that was ours, that common sense would not prevail and the developers would go to appeal ? that is what has happened.? He said the fact almost 1,500 local people had submitted letters of objection at the time of the application, showed how strong local views were. Mr Quirke warned any scheme would have a devastating effect on tourism on Dartmoor. ?The BBC?s Holiday programme has just voted Dartmoor Britain?s number one holiday attraction. ?We may be forgiven for thinking that we are the guardians of something special and unique; something that millions of outsiders also love and cherish.? And he attacked bodies such as Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace for allying themselves to ?big business and our heritage-destroying Government, rather than the real and rational good of the country and its people?. ?It is simply extraordinary that they, like such supposedly august bodies as the DTI, should cheerfully swallow the sales pitch of the British Wind Energy Authority.? Steve Salt, project manager for West Coast Energy confirmed the company is to appeal and said: ?Obviously we were aggrieved with the decision and we still feel we want to make a contribution to the renewables targets.? He said the company was looking forward to being able to put more of its case to the inspectorate, but could not say when the appeal would be heard. A spokesperson for West Devon Borough Council said it felt its members? original case for refusal had been a strong one, but it was the applicant?s prerogative to appeal against the decision if it wished to do so. West Coast Energy has requested a written appeal ? the quickest form of appeal procedure ? but the decision on the form it will take rests with the planning inspectorate.