March 14, 2008
England
England
A planning inquiry into a windfarm planned for the Eden Valley is expected to end later today.
It will determine whether a three-turbine development at Hoff Moor, near Appleby, can go ahead after all.
Members of Eden Council’s planning applications committee went against the recommendations of their own officers last year when they turned down the scheme.
The turbines, 95m high to the tip of the blades, could have supplied power to more than 2,000 households for the next 25 years.
But councillors voted 13-0 against the plans after hearing from three local objectors.
Bill Thwaytes, who lives at Maulds Meaburn, argued on that day that allowing the development would set a precedent and produce a domino effect through the Eden Valley.
Geoff Lightburn, a local parish councillor, said the proposed site was a very poor one. It would only provide an intermittent supply of energy – but have a disastrous visual impact on the Eden landscape.
Supporters, who wrote letters to the council, maintained that wind turbines were a beautiful addition to the landscape and that the biggest threat to landscape was climate change.
They argued that wind energy was cost-effective, clean and sustainable, visually uplifting, quiet, elegant and efficient.
Small schemes, such as that proposed for Hoff Moor, would make an invaluable contribution to the county’s renewable energy capacity.
A government planning inspector began hearing evidence in the appeal at Penrith Town Hall on Tuesday.
He is expected to reserve judgement in the case but make his decision public within a couple of months.
By Dave Gudgeon
13 March 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/03/14/windfarm-planning-inquiry-ends-today/