March 23, 2011
England

Wind turbine application gets the thumbs-down

by JOHN CROSSLEY, Burton Mail, www.burtonmail.co.uk 23 March 2011

Residents are rejoicing after controversial plans to build a 160ft (49m) wind turbine have been blown over by planning chiefs.

Proposals to put up the triple blade turbine at Anslow Park Farm in Anslow were refused by the narrowest of margins – one vote.

Egg farmers F G Thompstone wanted to build the 225kWh (kilowatt hour) turbine to power its 36,000 hen business.

The plans had sparked debate and anger among Anslow residents over the last few months, with the application reaching its final stages at the East Staffordshire Borough Council planning committee on Monday.

John Hall, owner of Lount Farm, which is only 1,312ft (400m) from the proposed turbine, said: “There are no visible trees in line with us to break the view, and we will have to look at this structure 24 hours a day. Our main worries are noise and the health of residents, as well as the five months of heartache we have had with this thing being put up.

“There is a reasonable alternative and that is solar power.

“This would have a catastrophic effect on our business at Lount Farm.

“It is sad to say that the applicant will not be able to see it from his property and we will get absolutely no benefit from this whatsoever.”

A resident of Lount Lane added that the land in the area was ‘unspoiled’ and that there needed to be ‘good reason’ to change it.

Jonathan Thompstone said: “As a local business we are trying to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels.

“There are very few sites in the area that are suitable for a turbine, but our site is an exception.

“We have changed our proposals to a smaller, quiet turbine.”

He added that the authority was yet to grant a renewable energy project ‘of any significant size’.

Planning officer Jonathan Imber said that the proposals would not have an unacceptable impact on the amenity of nearby residents, but recommended its refusal.

Councillor Greg Hall said: “The biggest problem is the proximity to dwellings.

Overall, the visual impact would be unacceptable.”

Four members voted for the plans to be rejected, and three voted for them to be granted.

Applicant Frank Thompstone declined to comment after the meeting.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/03/23/wind-turbine-application-gets-the-thumbs-down-2/