January 29, 2011
England

More than 700 residents sign petition as wind farm scheme gathers speed

Tamworth Herald, .thisistamworth.co.uk 28 January 2011

More than 700 local residents have signed a petition against the proposals to build a wind farm in Haunton.

With a decision by Lichfield District Council only weeks away, the petition has been handed over to the planning committee.

The plans by German company Prowind to construct four 420ft wind turbines on land owned by Councillor Philip Bennion, Liberal Democrat and Independent Alliance member for Mease and tame, have been controversial since the erection of a 240ft wind speed test mast in 2009.

The resulting wind farm planning application was submitted to the council five months ago.

But locals opposing the plans say the company have failed to answer crucial concerns has also produced illustrations of the massive structures which significantly under estimate the impact on the surrounding area and historic local buildings.

Resident Lynette Lewis said: “It’s been a difficult time for the communities of Clifton Campville, Harlaston and Haunton, but hundreds of people have been united in opposition to this wind farm.

“Concerns were raised a year ago over the accuracy of illustrations they provided showing what the impact would be on the local area.

“We and many others felt they’d missed the most sensitive aspects but requests for additional illustrations fell on deaf ears.

“The ongoing delays to this planning application are because Prowind are now finally being forced to provide those extra illustrations we asked for long ago.”

Councillor Matthew Ellis, Staffordshire County Council Tory member for Lichfield Rural East, said: “This does seem to have been going on for a long time.

“It must be difficult producing a convincing planning argument for a development of this size which would clearly impact upon a number of communities, historic buildings and the very flat environment.

“Whether or not you believe in the viability of on-shore wind energy, these proposed turbines will be some of the largest ever built on mainland UK and will undoubtedly affect the wider Mease and Tame area for miles around.

“I’m also urging the district council to liaise with neighbouring planning authorities because of the potential compound effect of the five wind turbine applications currently under consideration in the southern Staffordshire area.”


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/01/29/more-than-700-residents-sign-petition-as-wind-farm-scheme-gathers-speed/