July 6, 2011
England

Giant wind turbine plan withdrawn – but could be back

by PHILIP JENKINS, www.yourleekpaper.co.uk 6 July 2011

A controversial plan to build one of the country’s biggest inland wind turbines near Leek has been withdrawn.

London-based Temporis Wind had submitted plans for a 250ft-tall wind turbine on land at Red Earth Farm, near Rudyard.

Families living near the site, which perches on the edge of Gun Hill, say the wind turbine would have had a harmful impact on wildlife, visual amenity, as well as opening the floodgates to other turbines.

Other objections included potential damage to a Roman road and the lack of consultation with neighbours.

However, despite the plans being withdrawn by the applicant, campaigners believe their fight is not over yet.

Retired insurance broker Fred Bradshaw from Upper Haddon Farm, who led the campaign against the turbine, told Your Leek Paper he believed another revised planning application was imminent.

He said: “Regrettably, we believe this is only temporarily. We think the landowners must have realised that the application as it stood was flawed, and we understand that they intend to reapply in a couple of months time.”

One of the campaigners’ main objections was that an important ecological survey was carried out at the wrong time of the year – something which they believe will form part of the resubmitted application.

“One of our neighbours came across a man on the site just last Monday, and he told her he was doing a bird survey for the landowner,” said Mr Bradshaw.

“In the original application, the ecological and habitat surveys were carried out on February 17 and the first week in March, which was clearly the wrong time of the year, and we picked up on that.

“We have not heard the last of this for a long time yet.”

Meanwhile plans have been submitted for a 15 metre wind turbine in Brown Edge.

The proposal has been submitted by Heritage Energy Ltd at The Sands in Marshes Hill.

The applicant says the turbine will generate a renewable electricity source which will be used by the householder.

Statutory consultation ends on July 20.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/07/06/giant-windturbine-plan-withdrawn-but-could-be-back/