April 25, 2008
England

Wind farm plan thrown out for third time

The five-year saga of a controversial Lincolnshire wind farm plan has taken a new twist after a Government inspector turned it down – again.

But energy firm Your Energy has refused to admit defeat, even though residents opposed to the plan have declared victory.

The company wants to build a 10-turbine site at Laughton, near Gainsborough, to create enough power for 7,000 homes.

The plan was originally turned down by West Lindsey District Council in 2004. A planning inspector rejected the firm’s first appeal in 2006 and now a second appeal has been denied.

Your Energy has said it is looking into the details of the Government planning inspector’s report before deciding on its next course of action.

The Laughton, Scotton and Northorpe Wind Turbine Action Group is claiming that its campaign against the Mount Pleasant Farm scheme has ended.

“As far as we’re concerned it’s over because the inspector’s report has major implications far bigger than this application,” said group chairman Dick Bird (63).

“Even at 60m these would be huge turbines and at last it has been agreed that they would be too big.”

Your Energy had been confident that its appeal would be successful after a series of its wind farms were approved by local authorities.

Managing director Richard Mardon said: “This is the second time we have appealed against West Lindsey and we are undertaking a legal review of this stunning decision.”