One of the most important planning enquiries held in the Yorkshire Dales for many years opens next Tuesday (January 12) to decide whether some of the finest landscape in the north of England will be dominated by five huge wind turbines the height of Big Ben.

For two years now, protestors have been fighting to proposal for a massive windfarm near Gargrave which will be highly visible from the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the scenic Forest of Bowland over the Lancashire border, and Pendle Hill, scene of the infamous Pendle Witches trials 400 years ago.

Planning permission has been refused by Craven District Council but the German turbine company has pressed ahead with the project despite giving earlier assurances that they would withdraw if there was local opposition.

The protest group, Friends of the Craven Landscape, have joined with Craven District Council, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, and the influential Lutyens Trust to oppose the plan – the turbines would overshadow Gledstone Hall, a masterpiece by the architect Sir Edwin Lutyens.

The Friends are inviting people who wish to speak to attend the opening of the enquiry, at the Craven DC offices in Skipton, but are asking for a “low key, dignified presence.” They will be represented by Mr David Manley, QC, one of the country’s leading specialists in planning law.