September 22, 2011
England

Lambs Hill campaigners’ vow as Stillington wind farm work is halted

by Lindsey Sampson, Evening Gazette, www.gazettelive.co.uk 22 September 2011

A decision to grant planning permission for a controversial wind farm has been quashed after protesters raised concerns about how the decision was reached.

Stockton Council had given permission for the development of the four-turbine wind farm on land west of Stillington, near Stockton, in March, and developers Banks Renewables had already begun work.

However, the project has now been halted on a technicality after campaigners sought legal advice.

The Lambs Hill Action Group, made up of people living in areas surrounding the proposed site, asked for the planning application to be reviewed, submitting nine technical queries they felt needed to be addressed.

The group earlier this year called on the Department for Communities and Local Government to overturn the ruling allowing planning permission, but it was decided the scheme did not warrant further investigation.

However, the council has now quashed its decision.

Tom Kirby, spokesman for the action group, said: “We submitted nine issues that we felt needed addressing and our understanding is that the decision has been quashed on one of those points.

“However, the application is likely to be resubmitted so it has not come to an end yet.”

Carol Straughan, Stockton Council’s head of planning, said: “Having received a claim for a judicial review on a technical point, the council has consented to the quashing of the planning permission with a view to it being resubmitted back to planning committee.

“We will contact any person who made representation on the original application so they may attend the planning meeting where the application will be discussed.”

Phil Dyke, development director of Banks Renewables, said: “While we will, of course, fully abide with these new requirements, the delays we are now experiencing are causing a great deal of unnecessary costs to be incurred by the local authority at a time when public expenditure is already greatly stretched.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/09/22/lambs-hill-campaigners-vow-as-stillington-wind-farm-work-is-halted/