February 18, 2008
England

Renewed hope for windfarm

Controversial plans for a wind farm in a Chorley village have been given fresh hope.

Damian Culshaw’s application for 80m high wind turbines at Cliff’s Farm at Mawdesley Moss, appeared to have been sunk by Chorley Council planners last August.

They turned down the bid on the grounds it would infringe on greenbelt land and that noise levels would be too high for residents.

However, members of the council’s development control committee have considered a retrospective noise survey, submitted by Mr Culshaw.

He said the technology he was using last year to measure noise impact had been stolen and he’d obtained new figures to prove the application did not break the noise limit.

The farmer’s son is staying tight-lipped over whether he will appeal against the planners’ decision but it is believed an appeal is more likely to succeed if there are less grounds for refusal.

Mr Culshaw said: “I, as the applicant, have now demonstrated with additional data that the noise impact is not above the specified limits. The only outstanding reason for refusal, as far as the council is concerned, is the one on greenbelt land.”

Harold Heaton, chairman of Chorley Council’s development control committee, said: “The noise level survey had not been supplied when the application was originally submitted and the applicant did not specify what type of wind turbine was going to be used.

“This meant that we were not aware of the amount of noise the turbines would generate.

“The environmental department at Chorley Council has looked at the issue and considered the noise level study and we can no longer sustain that point of objection with regards to noise.

“We have withdrawn the notice of refusal on that issue but there is still the issue of intrusion into greenbelt land, which has been maintained.”

The plans have been opposed by protest group Mawdesley Against Wind Farms (MAWF).

Chorley Guardian

18 February 2008


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/02/18/renewed-hope-for-windfarm/