A MAJOR wind farm planning inquiry has been told it would affect the area's "tranquility" — a quality which attracts most people to the countryside.

Tom Oliver, head of rural policy for the Campaign to protect Rural England (CPRE), told the inquiry, now in its third week, that tranquility can be measured and 'mapped'.

And, according to a national survey, it was the most common reason for visiting the countryside.

He set out to prove that the proposed development by Airtricity for nine wind turbines near South Molton — known as the Three Moors wind farm — would affect the tranquility of the surrounding area.

He said there were substantial stretches of 'tranquil' and 'very tranquil' landscapes in the area under question.

In cross-examination Marcus McKay, advocate for Airtricity, argued the concept of tranquility could mean "different things to different people" and was quite subjective.

He referred to the tables measuring tranquility produced by the CPRE in conjunction with Northumbrian and Newcastle Universities which detailed more than 4,000 responses.

Using the same methodology he argued the wind farm's impact on tranquility would be marginal

Mr Oliver argued that tranquility measured a complex mixture of information.