Wind turbines 'will blight landscape'
The Peak District National Park Authority has attacked plans to build four 102-metre (335ft) wind turbines at Carsington Pastures, between Matlock and Ashbourne, in the High Court.
The proposed site is just outside the park and adjoins the Carsington Water beauty spot.
Local residents and tourists who enjoy walking the area, which includes the High Peak Trail, the Limestone Way and local paths, have condemned the scheme.
The legal challenge has important general implications for wind farms near national parks.
Although it supports renewable energy schemes in principle, the Peak park authority fears the giant turbines will have a harmful visual impact on an otherwise protected landscape.
The authority and Derbyshire Dales District Council are jointly asking Lord Justice Carnwath, sitting at the High Court in London, to quash a planning inspector’s decision last September to approve the proposal.
Communities Secretary John Denham and the developer Carsington Wind Energy Ltd is opposing the application.
The company argued in court that the inspector “reached a conclusion that is unimpeachable in terms of planning judgment”.
In his decision report, planning inspector Robin Brooks said: “I have concluded that the proposal would not unacceptably diminish the enjoyment of the countryside for the great majority of visitors to the Peak District National Park and Derbyshire in general, or of local residents.”
Anthony Crean QC, appearing for the park and council, argued that the inspector had misconstrued planning law. He made a fundamental error by concluding it was not necessary for him to consider whether the need for renewable energy could be met on some other site where less harm would be caused, said Mr Crean.
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2009, All Rights Reserved.
29 June 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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