Jeffrey Stevenson spoke on behalf of Carsington Wind Energy on Tuesday as part of the company's appeal to build a wind farm on Carsington Pastures.

The application for the 100m turbines was turned down by Derbyshire Dales District Council last year because of the impact it could have on the landscape. The decision on whether the application can go ahead will now be made by a government planning inspector.

During the inquiry on Tuesday Mr Stevenson, who spoke as a landscape expert, said: "I believe that the proposal would be seen as part of a continuum of human endeavour harnessing resources with this landscape, a continuum which extends back through time for thousands of years and over which time the appearance of the landscape has changed radically."

Mr Stevenson added that he felt the wind turbines could be installed without significant harm to the natural beauty of the area despite the fact that it would change the view from roads, tracks and public rights of way.

He said: "I do not consider the site to be wild or especially tranquil."

Last Thursday Protect Carsington and Hopton Action Group, set out their objections to the proposed site.

Points highlighted included impact on local business, noise, effects on wildlife and visual impact.

Don Mackenzie, from the group, said they were seriously concerned about the size of the turbines, which will stand 102 metres high, equivalent to a vertical stack of 21 double-deck buses and the noise they would cause.

He added: "Residents of Carsington would like to continue to enjoy tranquil evenings in their gardens without the rhythmic beatings of the turbines."

Resident Mel Pickering said: "We consider that the data on bats produced by West Coast Energy is seriously flawed and the erection of four turbines may have a severely detrimental effect on the indigenous bat population of Carsington Pastures."

Alternative sites were put forward by Steve Burton, who said the four turbines would be unnecessarily close to the villages and a site further north, at least one mile away from the villages, would be more suitable.