March 2, 2011
England

Controversial plans for wind turbines rejected

By John Crossley, Burton Mail, www.burtonmail.co.uk 2 March 2011

Plans for two controversial wind turbines have been turned down by planning chiefs.

The applications for an 82ft (25m) turbine at Chandry View Farm in Moat Lane, near Newborough, and an identical turbine at the Stud Farm in Needwood Road, Needwood have been rejected by East Staffordshire Borough Council.

The authority’s planning committee voted to refuse both applications, despite them being recommended for approval.

The decision on the Newborough turbine was met by a round of applause from residents who had packed into the meeting at Burton Town Hall in King Edward Place.

No public representation was made in support of either turbine at the meeting.

On the Needwood proposal, residents had raised concerns that the amount of power that could be generated from the turbine would be ‘disproportionate’ to the size of the property, as well as fears over the ‘loss of visual amenity’, noise, and the impact on a species of bat, a protected animal.

Councillor Julian Mott voted in favour of both proposals. On the Needwood turbine, he said: “We must accept that we need to have renewable energy in this country. Wind power forms part of that solution.” The Needwood plan was rejected by the slimmest of margins, with six members voting in favour and seven voting against.

One councillor was absent for the debate and was therefore unable to vote.

The meeting heard that the plan for a Newborough turbine had met fierce opposition from the village’s residents, with fears raised about the visual impact on the village, as well as the impact a turbine could have on protected species in the area.

The height to the top of blades would have been the same height as the hill it was standing on, effectively doubling its size.

One resident, who was speaking against the development, said: “The positioning in its location would result in a severe loss of amenity for Newborough residents.

“This is so prominent. It is not going to be missed by anyone.” Liberal Democrat councillor John Morris said: “This is a small turbine. Pictured from Newborough this would be insignificant.” Three councillors voted in favour of the plans and eight against. It was refused on grounds of its ‘excessive scale’ and its ‘prominent position over Newborough’.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/03/02/controversial-plans-for-wind-turbines-rejected/