March 1, 2012
England

Campaigners celebrate after bid for giant Darwen wind turbine is withdrawn

By Jon Livesey , Reporter, The Citizen, www.blackburncitizen.co.uk 1 March 2012

Campaigners are celebrating after controversial plans for a huge wind turbine at Cranberry Moor in Darwen were withdrawn.

The proposals would have seen the 88.5-metre high wind turbine erected at Pleasant View Farm, off Bolton Road, Bull Hill.

However, landowner Elizabeth Gott, who was behind the plans, has now withdrawn the application, which was due to be put before Blackburn with Darwen’s planning committee.

A number of people who live in the area had voiced fears over the proposition of the wind turbine, which would have been taller than the chimney at the town’s India Mill.

Single wind turbines in rural locations such as farms are usually between 20 and 40-metres high – less than half the size of the one that was proposed for Cranberry Moor.

Objectors welcomed the applicant’s decision to scrap the plans but pledged to continue their fight against similar proposals elsewhere in the area.

Cranberry Fold Court resident Martin Vizzard, who spearheaded the campaign, said his home would have been just 365 metres from the turbine.

“Obviously we are pleased that the application has been withdrawn because such a huge development should have been discussed fully with the people of Darwen,” he said.

“We hope that developers will now approach the community to see what their feelings are before going ahead with plans for such huge structures.

“We want to thank the local people who have supported our campaign fo dialogue because that was what we wanted – to know if the community was behind us.

“We are going to continue ourt campaign to ensure plans for other turbines in the area will be discussed with local people.”

Such was the strength of feeling against the turbine at Cranberry Moor that a public meeting was held last month at Whitehall Country Club to discuss concerns.

In addition, the leader of Blackburn with Darwen Liberal Democrats Coun David Foster backed the campaign against the proposals.

Town hall officers said the applicant had not given a reason for withdrawing the plans and that there was no indication whether or not they would be re-submitted.

Ms Gott was unavailable for comment.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/03/01/campaigners-celebrate-after-bid-for-giant-darwen-wind-turbine-is-withdrawn/