Joy at windfarm ruling
Campaigners were celebrating today after a Government inspector threw out plans for a windfarm near Market Drayton.
Owen Paterson, MP for North Shropshire, hailed the decision as a “tremendous result” which prevented the “devastation of the north Shropshire landscape”. Nuon Renewables had wanted to install seven 110m turbines.
The Planning Inspectorate was called in after Nuon appealed against a decision by the former North Shropshire District Council to refuse permission for the turbines at Lower Farm, Bearstone, near Market Drayton.
Nuon also appealed against Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s refusal of planning permission for access to the site.
But yesterday, the inspectorate said it had rejected the appeals and upheld the councils’ decisions.
Campaigners feared the turbines would have a detrimental effect on the landscape and would cause noise.
Announcing the decision, which followed a four-week inquiry in May, Trevor Cookson, planning inspector, said he did not consider noise would be a problem, but the visual intrusion would be “significant”.
“In terms of appearance in this setting, the turbines would be seen as large, alien features,” he said.
Steve Ellsmoor, from campaign group Veto on Rural Turbine Expansion (Vortex), said hundreds of residents were celebrating.
He said he and his family had considered moving if the wind turbines were allowed.
“We are so pleased,” he said. “Our campaign has cost £80,000 to £100,000, because we fought it ourselves. The money had to go towards paying our own consultants and looking at everything, but it’s been worth it.”
Mr Paterson, Conservative MP for the area, said it was “a great team victory” and added: “You were looking at devastation of the north Shropshire landscape, destruction of a world class stud, houses devalued by 25 per cent, damage to the wildlife and it would have made life difficult for RAF Shawbury.”
Al Hanagan, Nuon spokesman, said: “Nuon will be disappointed with the outcome, but we will look closely at the decision letter before deciding what further steps will be taken.”
By Abigail Bates
16 July 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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