January 28, 2011
England

Wind farms could still be on the horizon

BBC News, news.bbc.co.uk 27 January 2011

The application for a wind farm near Evesham refused by Wychavon District Council is one of three to be made in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Scottish Power had applied to build five turbines, 126.5 m (415ft) high and a weather mast near Bishampton Bank.

Other applications that have been submitted are for three turbines at Strensham in Worcestershire and four turbines at Reeves Hill in Herefordshire.

When considering the Lenchwick application, the planning officers’ report said the structures would have had an unacceptable impact on the landscape, and could be very noisy.

According to the report, a total of 739 objections have been recorded against the proposed development.

Strensham

In 2009, Wind Prospect Developments Ltd was granted permission to put up a 70 metre wind monitoring mast.

This is to measure the wind speed and direction 40, 50, 60 and 70 metres above ground level for a temporary period of two years.

In the same year, the Strensham Windfarm Action Group (SWAG) submitted a petition to the government to make sure there would be at least 2km between any new industrial-size wind turbine and any home, if permission was granted.

Wind Prospect Developments Ltd is now in the process of revising its application because of an objection by the Highways Agency, which is concerned with the way the turbines would be transported and assembled.

Tewksbury Borough Council has also said more work needs to be done to address comments made in response to the consultation about the planning application.

A spokesman from the council said: “These include a response to noise issues, further consideration of landscape impact, further consideration of the impact on Croome Court and an extra season of bat surveying.”

Reeves Hill

An application for four turbines to be built in north Herefordshire was submitted in the latter part of 2008.

Presteigne and Norton Town Council have considered the application which is now in the hands of Herefordshire Council.

The Mayor of Presteigne and Norton, James Tennant-Eyles, said the committee have chosen not to support or go against the application:

“Our community of 2,500 seems to be people split between the benefits and disadvantages of wind farms – there are those in support and those against, with valid arguments on both sides.

“Wind farms are an extremely sensitive issue – nobody has really proved that they are a good idea and the thought of having something that might
actually not be that helpful despoiling the landscape has divided people.”

Various bodies have given their views on the application, including Shobdon Airfield where the manager has concerns about the potential effects of the wind farm on the navigational and communication facilities used at the airfield.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/01/28/wind-farms-could-still-be-on-the-horizon/