Wind farm loses its puff
Controversial plans for a wind farm near Graveley are set to be recommended for refusal by district planners.
The proposal by npower renewables to build eight turbines on the site of the former wartime airfield at Cotton Farm, in between Graveley, Toseland, Great Paxton and Offord D’Arcy has sparked controversy among residents who fear it would create noise pollution and have a visual impact on the surroundings.
The plans are to come before South Cambridgeshire District Council at a planning committee meeting next Wednesday.
In July this year, a planning application for the turbines was submitted to Huntingdonshire District Council, which will make the final decision on the matter.
The turbines could produce enough renewable electricity to supply the average annual needs of between 6,900 and 10,000 homes.
However, campaigners say the turbines would stand twice as tall as Ely Cathedral — at maximum height of 127m — and the nearest homes to the wind farm would be less than 1km away.
Graveley Parish Council told SCDC’s planning department it is recommending the plans for refusal.
David Rush, development control manager at SCDC, has recommended the planning committee tells Huntingdonshire District Council it objects to the proposals.
In a report to councillors, he said: “The difficulty in this case is that the proposal is simply too close to Graveley village.”
Bev Gray, chairman of Cotton Farm Action Group, said: “We are very pleased South Cambs has agreed with us that the power station would be far, far too close to villages.”
Kim Gauld-Clark, npower renewables project developer, said: “The UK Government is committed to reaching a target of supplying 15 per cent of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2015. Onshore wind farms such as Cotton Farm are vital in meeting these challenging targets.”
Published: 30/10/2008
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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