December 31, 2010
England

Turbine plans are still raising fears

By John Crossley, Burton Mail, www.burtonmail.co.uk 31 December 2010

Revised plans for a controversial 150ft wind turbine have sparked an angry response.

FG Thompstone Farmers want to erect the triple-blade 46.9m turbine on land they own at Anslow Park Farm, in Anslow.

One of the changes from earlier proposals is to increase the distance of the turbine from neighbouring Lount Farm from 380m to 410m.

However Di Fairclough, who manages a horse breeding business at Castle View Stud, in Lount Farm, was not satisfied with the changes.

She said: “I don’t see that moving it another 30m away will make much of a difference.

“If the noise levels are quieter, how much quieter?” Mrs Fairclough said she thought that the proposal would still be damaging to her business.

She said: “I still don’t think that this proposal is needed, it is being used for profit.

“I don’t think these new proposals have changed anything, unless we can get a comparison on how loud the noise levels will be.” Frank Thompstone says that the revised proposals are quieter than the original plans and that they had considered the concerns of nearby residents when revising the plans.

The turbine would be used to power the 36,000 hen business, off-setting carbon emissions and reducing his carbon footprint.

Any excess electricity generated from the turbine would be sold back to the national grid.

The original proposals were withdrawn in November following uproar from surrounding residents.

Conservative MP Andrew Griffiths, who represents Burton, is co-sponsoring a bill which. if it became law, would enable councils only to approve applications for structures if they were at least 1km away from the nearest residential property, or 2km for larger turbines and wind farms.

Mr Griffiths also raised concerns over the development. He said: “I’ve been contacted by residents about not just the Anslow application but one in Marchington Cliff.

“I’m worried about the ill-siting of wind turbines, particularly when they are too close to people’s homes and communities.

“It’s precisely this kind of application that would be outlawed if my private member’s bill became law.” The turbine proposals, which have been submitted to East Staffordshire Borough Council, are open for a consultation period until January 12.

A decision date has not yet been set.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/12/31/turbine-plans-are-still-raising-fears/