July 12, 2011
England

Green belt wind turbines opposed

by David Skentelbery, Warrington Worldwide, www.warrington-worldwide.co.uk 11 July 2011

Three controversial plans for wind turbines on three different Green Belt farms at Warrington come before borough council planning chiefs on Thursday.
Planning officers are recommending that two of the schemes – at Causeway Bridges Farm, Alder Lane, Burtonwood and Walnut Tree Farm, Northwich Road, Stretton – should be approved.
But they are recommending the third, at Lowes Farm, Kenyon Lane, Kenyon should be refused.
All three applications have attracted strong opposition from local residents – and members of the borough council’s development management committee have visited all three sites. The three farmers involved all want to erect turbines on their land to cut energy costs.
The scheme at Burtonwood involves a 50m high turbine – 77m high including the blades. The site is alongside the M62 and objections have come from Burtonwood Parish Council and 10 nearby residents.
There are also objections from the Joint Radio Company – which assesses potential for interference to radio systems operated by energy companies but Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which originally objected on the grounds the turbine could impact on the airport radar system, has withdrawn its opposition.
The scheme at Kenyon is for a 20.35m high turbine – including the blades. There have been objections from three neighbours concerned about the visual impact, noise, proximity to a public footpath, and harm to wildlife.
A 25m turbine is proposed at Walnut Tree Farm, Stretton, where 30 objections have been received from neighbours, plus objections from Stretton and Whitley parish councils.
Planning officers say wind turbines are inappropriate development in the Green Belt but that the benefits of producing energy from renewable sources can amount to special circumstances which would outweigh any harm to the openness of the Green Belt.
But the application at Kenyon provides in sufficient information about possible noise problems and for this reason officers are recommending it be refused.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/07/12/green-belt-wind-turbines-opposed/