November 18, 2010
England

Controversial wind turbine plan is withdrawn

by ADRIAN JENKINS, Burton Mail, www.burtonmail.co.uk 18 November 2010

Plans to build a 160ft wind turbine in Anslow have been withdrawn.

The controversial proposals for the 275kwh twin blade turbine on land owned by chicken farm FG Thompstone, in Anslow Park, had sparked anger from nearby residents and businesses.

The turbine would have been used to help generate electricity for the 36,000- hen business, and the turbine would have had a hub height of 32.7m and a rotor diameter of 32m, on pasture south of the River Dove valley.

The applicant, Frank Thompstone, said: “I have withdrawn our application for the turbine so we can research quieter models.

I will not be making any further comment.” The move has been widely welcomed by nearby residents.

Di Fairclough (pictured), the joint owner of neighbouring Castle View Stud, at Lount Farm, in Lount Lane, Anslow, was thrilled to learn that the proposal had been shelved.

If the turbine had been erected it would have been 380 metres from her business.

She said: “Mr Thompstone has perhaps come to his senses and taken more notice of those people around him.

“If a quieter turbine was built in an area where it would not affect anybody else, I would have no problem with that.

“I’m not against wind turbines as such, but I think they are a bad idea if they directly affect other people’s lives and livelihoods.” The plans had faced wide-scale criticism from Anslow Parish Council and Burton Albion chairman Ben Robinson, who is an Anslow resident.

Mr Thompstone had previously defended the proposals, saying that people were frightened of change and that the turbine would help reduce the carbon footprint of his business.

The original plans were due to appear before the East Staffordshire Borough Council planning committee on December 20. There is no indication on when a re-vised application will be submitted to the planning authority.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/11/18/controversial-wind-turbine-plan-is-withdrawn/