PLANNERS have given the go-ahead for a 130ft test pole to see if a moorland site is suitable for an eight-turbine wind farm, despite protests from people living nearby.

The pole will measure the force of wind on a site at Knabs Ridge, off Skipton Road, near Harrogate, close to the Menwith Hill US surveillance base.

The application is by National Wind Power to generate electricity for the National Grid.