February 20, 2012
England

Energy firm facing clash in windfarm plans battle

Shropshire Star, www.shropshirestar.com 20 February 2012

Villagers look likely to cross swords with an energy company at a public inquiry over plans to create a giant windfarm on the Shropshire border.

Energy company EDF and Bristol-based Wind Prospect are appealing against a decision to refuse permission for six 413ft high turbines on land at Brineton, near Weston-under-Lizard.

South Staffordshire Council initially refused permission after committee members said the turbines would be an ‘unacceptable visual intrusion’.

The land is owned by Lord Newport and his fellow directors at Bradford Rural Estates.

The inquiry, led by inspector Elizabeth Fieldhouse, starts tomorrow at Blymhill Village Hall and is expected to last two weeks.

Villagers formed the Stop the Turbines Action Group and a delegation will attend the hearing tomorrow.

Objections have also been lodged by South Staffordshire Council, English Heritage and the Council for the Protection of Rural England.

Action group chairman Tony Lendon said: “The development will devastate this beautiful part of south Staffordshire and ruin the lives of many people living close to the turbines.”

Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy is also backing the villagers, saying it would ruin a landscape unspoilt for centuries.

But Wind Prospect bosses say any harm due to the development would be limited and would be outweighed by the benefits.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/02/20/energy-firm-facing-clash-in-windfarm-plans-battle/