November 6, 2010
England

North Cumbria villagers win farm land turbine battle

By Phil Coleman, The Cumberland News, www.cumberlandnews.co.uk 5 November 2010

Campaigners have won their battle to prevent the building of a 25-metre high wind turbine on farmland near to Great Corby.

One Wetheral parish councilor said the proposed turbine would have spoiled what he regarded as an otherwise “tranquil” country view.

Carlisle City Council confirmed this week that the application to build the turbine on land at Low Wood Farm, between Burnrigg and Great Corby, has been withdrawn. It is not known why.

With a proposed height of 24.7 metres and a reinforced concrete base, the turbine would have been visible for miles around according to critics. Wetheral parish council formally voted to oppose the development.

Nigel Holmes, who represents the Great Corby ward, said: “Obviously we are very pleased that the application has been withdrawn. It was the sensible thing to do in the circumstances because the impact on the environment of what was proposed would have been wholly disproportionate to the benefit. We are grateful to the applicant for taking this action.”

Last month, Mr Holmes said the area where the turbine would have been built was peaceful and tranquil and should remain so.

He maintained that there are many less obtrusive sites for a turbine than one of the most beautiful stretches of the lower Eden Valley.

Fellow parish councillor Barry Earp said planners should follow the Scottish policy of ensuring turbines are at least 1,000 metres away from residential property – he said this one would have been 490 metres away from houses at Burnrigg.

The planning application, submitted by the occupant of Low Wood Farm, would have been considered at the November 12 meeting of Carlisle City Council’s development control committee.

Despite their green credentials, there is evidence that an increasing number of wind farm proposals in Cumbria are being blown off course by the strength of local opposition.

In recent weeks, the company behind plans for a windfarm at Cumwhinton, near Carlisle, said it has yet to decide whether it will try to have its scheme approved after its original plans were thrown out

Statistics show that Carlisle City Council dealt with just two planning applications for wind turbines in the year to March, compared to seven in the year before.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/11/06/north-cumbria-villagers-win-farm-land-turbine-battle/