THE fight to block construction of nine giant wind turbines in West Devon has finally ended in defeat for the landowner attempting to block the move.

Michael Hulme and the Den Brook Judicial Review Group were challenging the controversial proposal for a wind farm to be built at Den Brook Valley between Spreyton and North Tawton.

The plans for nine 120-metre turbines at the site were originally submitted in 2005 by Renewable Energy Systems.

The DBJRG and local residents had expressed concerns that such a scheme would create noise pollution from generators and the swishing of turbines, disturbing the rural peace.

The plans have gone through a public inquiry twice, but following a lengthy legal battle the plans have now been given the green light by appeal court judges.

Despite losing the appeal, Mr Hulme was upbeat about the decision on the noise conditions. He said: 'I've been on this for seven years, and in my eyes it's been a major success.

'I doubt that many people will look at it that way, and the developers will see the result as a massive success for them, but we have set out what we have achieved to do.

'The process has boiled down to the noise condition which was set originally.

'The condition could have been interpreted in several different ways, and I felt that RES were interpreting the condition in a way not intended by the planner.

'As far as the visual impact the turbines may have, for me personally it's not an issue. I know it's an issue for lots of people, but that isn't what I was concerned about.

'This appeal has ensured that RES will have to enforce the noise condition correctly.

'We've managed to get an unprecedented noise condition that can hopefully now be used around the country for others affected by noise from turbines.'

RES are expected to start development at the site in the near future.