January 12, 2011
England

Controversial West Cumbrian windfarm plan rejected

Times & Star, www.timesandstar.co.uk 11 January 2011

Controversial plans for three wind turbines at Great Broughton have been rejected by Allerdale council.

Peel Energy, of Manchester, wanted to erect the 410ft turbines at Broughton Lodge, but the authority’s development panel threw the plans out.

It said the turbines would be an overbearing feature in the landscape and Allerdale had reached saturation point with windfarms.

A decision on the turbines had been expected in November but had to be deferred because of an error in a council report.

Officers had initially recommended refusal but changed their recommendation to approval following the withdrawal of an objection by National Air Traffic Services.

Bill Jefferson, panel member, said: “This will be a massive overbearing feature on the site. It couldn’t be anything else.”

He added that wind turbines were condensed in a narrow strip between the protected areas of the Solway Coast AONB and the Lake District National Park.

Mark Worcester, of Peel Energy, said that the windfarm would have come with a community benefit fund worth £4 million over the lifetime of the farm and would have created local jobs.

Allerdale council received 183 letters of objection and a 270-name petition.

Stephen Murray, of Stockmoor Hall, told the meeting it would have a negative effect on the redevelopment of the Broughton Moor dump as tourist destination.

Residents were concerned about issues including flicker, noise, visual impact, interference with television reception and effect on wildlife.

There were also concerns that the development would have spoiled the last piece of recreational land in the village, which was used for sponsored walks, picnics, cycling and horse riding.

Broughton Moor Parish Council also objected to the scheme.

Peel Energy could appeal against the development panel’s decision.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/01/12/controversial-west-cumbrian-windfarm-plan-rejected/