February 24, 2011
England

Fight over wind farm application costs £47k

www.thisistotalessex.co.uk 24 February 2011

Fighting a planning application for nine 400-foot high wind turbines on the marshes between Middlewick Farm and Wraywick Farm at Southminster is set to cost Maldon District Council £47,600.

The council rejected the planning application by RidgeWind in August because of the effect on the landscape and now the company is taking it to a Planning Inspectorate inquiry on March 8.

The application, which is opposed by residents’ action group Siege, also includes associated crane hardstanding areas, access tracks, a substation building, a 260-foot meteorological mast and a hardstanding area for marine access.

The estimated costs to be incurred by the council in a report to the finance and corporate services committee on Tuesday are: counsel £18,200; transport report £9,400; landscape report £7,300 to £10,100; noise report £4,700 and planning report £5,200.

The report to councillors says: “A supplementary revenue estimate is required to cover the costs associated with defending a major specialist planning appeal. If the enquiry exceeds six days additional costs will be incurred which will require further budget provision.”

Councillors will be asked to agree the extra cash.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/02/24/fight-over-wind-farm-application-costs-47k/