South Kesteven District Council's development control committee this afternoon voted 10 to 2 to refuse the application by Dorset-based developer Infinergy.

There were dozens of members of the public at the meeting at the Guildhall ballroom, in Grantham, echoing scenes from a fortnight ago when councillors originally voted to refuse the application.

The public and press were excluded from the start of the meeting for 15 minutes while councillors discussed legally sensitive matters.

After they were re-admitted committee chairman Coun Alan Parkin explained why the exclusion was necessary.

He said: "The committee had to consider a matter that could be subject to legal proceedings.

"Since the last meeting of this committee, the council has received an allegation which would, if proven, raise procedural concerns in regard to the planning application.

"I should like to make it clear that the concerns raised are entirely procedural matters.

"Can I assure everyone the council places the greatest regard on the maintenance of the highest standard of probity."

As a result of this, Coun Rosemary Kaberry-Brown was excluded from the meeting and committee members were asked to disregard her comments made at the first meeting on March 11.

Councillors were asked if their original reasons for refusal, including concerns about the wind farm's potential effect on health, the landscape and heritage, still stood. They agreed that they remained the same.

After the vote was taken to refuse the application, the result was greeted with applause from members of the public and supporters of anti-wind farm campaign group BLOT.

Infinergy plans to appeal against the decision - a process which could take months and cost SKDC hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Project director Herbert Lindlahr said: "BLOT may have won the battle, but they have not won the war. We are very confident we will win an appeal."

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