Protest at plans for wind turbine
A decision on plans to install a wind turbine at a Sheffield surgery was deferred after a 107-signature protest petition was submitted at the last minute and residents complained of insufficient consultation.
Birley Health Centre on Birley Lane had applied for planning permission for the 57ft-high structure in front of the building to help generate its electricity.
Sheffield Council planning officers recommended approval, saying it would not cause significant noise nuisance or be harmful visually. Only two letters of objection were submitted — but residents attending a meeting of the city centre, south and east planning board complained the only publicity about the application was a small notice in the surgery car park, which many people had missed.
Sheffield Council officers had sent letters to 15 properties immediately surrounding the practice.
Resident Carol Fletcher said said: “There was nothing in the health centre, just a little notice tied to a tree in the car park, which people didn’t see. But when I went out with the petition people were crossing the road and coming out of their houses to sign.”
Residents were concerned about noise, visual impact and claimed turbines should not be within a mile of homes — although officers said there was no such policy.
Planning board members voted to defer a decision on the scheme for a site visit to assess the impact and for further consultation.
By Richard Marsden
19 February 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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