Residents ‘not consulted’ over single wind turbine in Lincolnshire  

Credit:  Louth Target | www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk 21 July 2012 ~~

A council’s planning department has been criticised for a community failing to be included as a statutory consultee over a single wind turbine application.

Andrew McLaren, from Yarburgh, contacted the Target after he noticed work was starting to erect a 500kw wind turbine at The Limes, Highbridge Road in Alvingham.

The turbine, which has received planning permission, will have a blade tip up to 67 metres and falls within the Alvingham parish but Mr McLaren said it affects people in Yarburgh too.

He said: “My issue is not with the applicant for this turbine, it is the process in which it has been handled by East Lindsey District Council’s planning department.

“No one has been consulted in Yarburgh. The first we knew about it was when one of the farmers spoke about the work going on there. One of East Lindsey’s planning officers would have been to the site themselves to take photographs where they would have seen for themselves how close it is to Yarburgh and they would have thought we need to be consulted.

“It is too late now as planning permission has been given but I would have objected had I known. We have Conisholme wind farm nearby and this turbine adds to the accumulative effect..”

A spokesman from East Lindsey District Council said all planning applications are advertised in The Target as well as planning application notices placed at the site.

He said: “We have a duty to advertise all planning applications and anyone, no matter where they live, can take part in the consultation. We welcome as many comments as possible to help with the decision process and we encourage people to keep an eye out on the public notices so everybody can have their say.”