January 14, 2012
England

Berkeley Castle “would be severely affected” by wind farm

The Citizen, www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk 14 January 2012

Wind farm turbines would be clearly visible in the landscape around historic Berkeley Castle, an ongoing planning inquiry heard.

Four 120 metre-high green electricity windmills are proposed in countryside at Stinchcombe.

And they would be easily seen from the Grade I-listed castle, its owner and occupier John Berkeley told government inspector Richard Thomas.

“They would be under a mile away and would stick out like a sore thumb in a very beautiful area of Gloucestershire,” Mr Berkeley later told The Citizen.

His evidence was presented in support of the Save Berkeley Vale campaigners.

The protestors and Stroud District Council were opposing local firm Ecotricity’s appeal for permission to build the wind farm.

The impact of the turbines on heritage assets like listed buildings, including the 900-year-old castle, were a major consideration for the inquiry, Mr Thomas had said in opening the sessions.

Other issues were the impact of the turbines on neighbours and on the nearby Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

But archaeologist and historic buildings conservator Dr Jonathan Edis said that the turbines would have only minor impact on the castle.

In evidence for applicants Ecotricity, Dr Edis said that of 31 listed buildings nearby only three would be moderately impacted but “no substantial” nor “severe” harm would be caused overall.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/01/14/berkeley-castle-would-be-severely-affected-by-wind-farm/