March 20, 2008
England
England
Huge costs could be landed on South Kesteven District Council if developers appeal successfully against the decision made last week to reject plans for a wind farm north of Grantham.
Developer Infinergy has vowed to appeal against the decision made by the council’s planning committee against the advice of officers.
It has budgeted £100,000 to bring the appeal and, if successful, would apply for SKDC to pay their costs on top of the council’s own.
Infinergy chief executive Charles Sandham, who has criticised how the meeting was conducted, said: “We believe the decision was vexatious and that many issues raised by the committee were inappropriate and should not have been raised.
“Moreover, we still feel very strongly that this is a good site. Our studies as well as the surveys of our independent consultants show that it is a site worth developing.”
The decision will be discussed at a further meeting of the development control committee on Tuesday, where 11 councillors who voted against the planning application will present their formal reasons for refusal.
They are expected to include health issues, landscape and visual impact on the Vale of Belvoir and impact on the histroic environment, such as Belvoir Castle and St Mary’s Church at Bottesford.
The development control committee will meet in the ballroom at The Guildhall in St Peter’s Hill, Grantham, at 2.30pm. Members of the public can attend but will not be entitled to speak at the meeting.
By Jo Hall
20 March 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/03/20/huge-cost-of-wind-farm-appeal-could-fall-on-council/