February 23, 2007
U.K.
U.K.
Campaigners opposed to a planned windfarm on the outskirts of an attractive Eden town have claimed an early victory, reports Paul Duncan.
Eden District Council’s planning committee voted 13-0 to refuse permission for a controversial scheme to build three wind turbines on land at Hoff Moor, south of Appleby.
As the councillors’ decision went against the recommendation of council officers to approve the scheme, the planning committee will discuss the application again at a meeting in April when it will either agree to endorse its original decision or it could decide to approve the windfarm.
Despite this, anti-windfarm protesters are claiming victory in “round one” of the fight.
Geoff Lightburn attended the meeting as a representative of the Hoff Ward of Bandleyside Parish Council and said he was pleased to see “local democracy working”.
The plans had caused widespread unrest in the community and during the consultation process the majority of local parish councils were opposed to it due to the “detrimental effect” it would have on the landscape and tourism in the area.
The application was lodged by farming family H.P. Bainbridge who said the windfarm – which if built, would have been 95 metres high and able to generate enough electricity to supply up to 2,340 homes – was part of plans to diversify and would guarantee the farm’s survival for the next 25 years.
When contacted by The Messenger, a representative of the applicant declined to comment.
By Paul Duncan
21 February 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/02/23/council-in-a-spin-over-turbine-plan/