Thousands of people visit Shipley Country Park every year

Derbyshire County Council said it will be an education resource for visitors at Shipley Country Park and provide the visitor centre's electricity.

But Shipley Parish Council and the area's residents committee said it will detract from the openness of the area and set a precedent for a wind farm.

The proposal must go before the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister before planning permission can be granted.

Derbyshire County Council said that around 95,000 visitors pass through Shipley Country Park visitor centre every year.

The centre hosts many exhibitions that interpret aspects of environment or local heritage.

Tree 'screens'

The proposed turbine is intended to complement the existing educational focus of the site and provide a link between its history as a colliery and the energy production methods of the future.

The council said the turbine would only be visible to a small number of local residents, with views from the north being screened by trees and the south shielded by Cinderhill Coppice.

Shipley Parish Council said the proposal is inappropriate to the local landscape, which has been restored after years of mining in the area.

It said the turbine would be unattractive, contravene green belt policy and set a precedent for the creation of a future wind farm.