Householders defeated in South Gloucestershire battle over wind turbines
Householders have lost their battle against plans to build three giant wind turbines on farmland near their South Gloucestershire homes.
A petition against the scheme was signed by 370 people in the area surrounding the site at Earthcott Green, near Alveston, where the 100-metre (328ft) structures will be used to generate power.
Those who ran the campaign to stop the turbines said they feared for their health, predicting they would suffer from the noise of the turbines and the moving shadow of the blades.
They also said the attractiveness of the locality would be spoilt and claimed the turbines would be a danger to horse riders who used nearby bridleways and roads, as well as to wildlife.
Next Generation, a subsidiary of renewable energy company Ecotricity, is behind the scheme for the land off Old Gloucester Road.
It was the second attempt to build a wind farm in the area. The first, for six turbines, was withdrawn after bosses at Filton Airfield said they would interfere with its radar and pose a risk for aircraft.
South Gloucestershire Council said the application was of major regional importance as it was a departure from the normal green-belt policy of only allowing development in special circumstances.
Eileen Watson, who with her husband, Dave, worked to stop the development, said: “This proposal doesn’t just affect people like us living in Earthcott Green. Many people in other parishes will be able to see these turbines.
“Of those living in the immediate area, 98 per cent opposed the plan. We feel that South Gloucestershire’s planning committee has opened the door to potential unrestrained wind turbine development in the green belt. All they will have to do is find a willing landowner and cite national need for renewable energy.”
“Our objections have been steamrollered. We said all along that they should be looking at alternative sites. They should be offshore or in more suitable sites, such as on brownfield land. Putting the development here will turn what is a rural area into an industrial site.”
About 20 people supported the campaigners when the application was determined, with Mr Watson putting the case for the objectors.
The turbines, which are 64 metres (210ft) to the hub and 100 metres to the top of the blade, also brought opposition from Alveston, Iron Acton, Frampton Cotterell and Almondsbury parish councils.
But members of the development control committee were told the scheme would result in 6.9 megawatts of electricity being generated for the National Grid, contributing to the need to produce “green” energy.
Planning officer Simon Penketh said although the turbines were of a significant scale and would be highly visible from local public rights of way and roads, officers believed the eco-friendly energy contribution they would make was a “sufficiently weighted argument” in support of the plan.
He also said there would be very limited impact on the area’s ecology, enjoyment of the countryside and public and road safety.
17 November 2008
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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