Berwick Borough Council's planning committee rejected the schemes for 20 turbines for three locations south west of the town after a heated six-hour meeting.

Related stories
- Application 1 - Moorsyde
- Application 2 - Barmoor
- Application 3 - Toft Hill

The committee said the plans would dominate the landscape and views from the sites of the Cheviots and the coast which could not be mitigated.

Officers had recommended the Moorsyde, at Felkington, and Barmoor, between Ford and Lowick, developments - seven and six turbines respectively - be approved.

Members went against those recommendations with only chairman Coun Brian Douglas voting in favour of approval.

Officers had said the seven-turbine Toft Hill plan, south west of Grindon, should be refused on the grounds of its impact on Duddo standing stones.

Members voted in line with that recommendation, Coun Douglas abstained.

Objectors had urged members throughout the meeting to refuse the schemes on the grounds of their effect on residential amenity and impact on the tourism industry.

More than 300 people, including many supporters, attended the meeting at the Maltings, Berwick.

Coun Dougie Watkin, of Norhamshire ward, who proposed refusal, said: "The applications sit between two protected areas. I cannot in all honesty understand that those structures are not going to dominate the landscape."

Coun Watkin also said the turbines would impact on Flodden Field, the site of the famous England-Scotland battle in 1513.

Coun David Wilson, of Lowick ward, said: "Countryside, archaeology and unspoilt landscape are major factors in our main tourism industry and we in this area live on tourism.

"It's our main income and we must be seen to protect that income."

Coun Forbes Grant, of North Sunderland ward, said: "It would be very disastrous is we had these wind farms associated with this part of north Northumberland.

"We are classed as the secret kingdom, we have a lot to give to Northumberland."

Objectors were delighted with the results afterwards but they said they expected appeals to be lodged.

Mike Maud, chairman of MAG (Moorsyde Action Group), which fought the Moorsyde proposal, said: "We are pleased we have got past the first hurdle and delighted that the councillors listening to the arguments.
"It took a lot of guts to do that."

Peter Worlock, chairman of Soul (Save Our Unspoilt Landscape, which campaigned against the Barmoor application, said: "We are very pleased that the council had the strength and courage to go against their officers' recommendations."

Larry Telford, chairman of Isores (Inappropriate Siting of Renewable Energy Structures), which campaigned against the Toft HIll proposals, said: "We are thrilled to bits. The result does justice to the landscape that the councillors have recognised as being special.
"We suspect that this is the first step of a long process."

Supporters said the applications should be given the green light in order to offset climate change and help in the drive for sustainable energy generation.