June 6, 2007
U.K.
U.K.
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority has responded to comments which criticised its decision to refuse planning permission for a wind turbine.
An Assembly inspector recently overturned the authority’s decision and gave the nine-metre high turbine, near Newport, the go-ahead, following an appeal.
The authority’s chief executive Nick Wheeler said: “National park authority officers are very well aware of the problems of climate change which face us all, but they are also charged with protecting and enhancing the landscape and implementing policies which have been adopted following widespread consultation with the public.
“A balance has to be struck, and as the inspector stated in this case it was a very fine balance.”
He added applications are not based on a single officer’s view, and are all determined in line with the authority’s adopted planning policies.
It was considered that this particular proposal did not meet the plan’s criteria in that it would be highly visible from the adjacent public highway and from more distant views including Carningli Mountain.
The inspector stated in his view the turbine would not have a “significant adverse impact” and as he did not know of any other proposals that would add to a damaging cumulative impact on the landscape, permission should be granted.
4 June 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/06/06/national-park-hits-back-at-its-critics/