February 17, 2011
England

Residents views sought on Wareham wind turbines plan

BBC News, www.bbc.co.uk 17 February 2011

Residents are being asked to give their views on 40 special conditions that would have to be agreed to before wind turbines could be built in Dorset.

In December last year, councillors approved energy firm Infinergy’s bid to erect four 125m-high (410ft) wind turbines in East Stoke.

Purbeck District Council planners had recommended permission be refused, due to environmental concerns.

Residents have until 11 March to lodge their views on the planning conditions.

The proposed site, formerly Masters Pit, is near to a year-round Scout camp and is flanked by a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, wetlands, a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area.

The list of conditions for the wind farm operator, drawn up by planning officials after talks in November last year with residents and interest groups, has been sent to all households that would be affected by the application.
Noise levels

They include that the wind farm exists only for a 25-year period; the assessment of noise levels; the restoration of the site at the end of the operation to maintain nature conservation interests and the landscape character of the area.

A council spokeswoman said: “The conditions will be presented to the planning board for consideration on 31 March.”

On 1 December last year, councillors voted in favour of the Alaska Wind Farm project, subject to conditions which “mitigate adverse effects”, such as noise and environmental factors.

Ahead of the meeting, the local authority received more than 700 written responses to the plan – 546 were in favour and 179 against it.

The council also received two petitions – one with 36 signatures was in favour of the farm, another with 1,103 was against.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/02/17/residents-views-sought-on-wareham-wind-turbines-plan/