May 1, 2012
England

Turbine vetoed on land untouched for centuries

By Caroline Barber, North-West evening Mail, www.nwemail.co.uk 1 May 2012

The countryside around Ulverston is becoming a hotspot for wind turbines, planners have claimed.

Members of South Lakeland District Council’s planning committee voiced concerns over the number of applications being submitted as they discussed proposals to build a 20.3 metre turbine at Woodside Farm, in Great Urswick.

The proposal, which the landowner hoped would generate electricity for the farm, with any excess being sold to the National Grid, was refused planning permission.

At the meeting, held in Kendal on Thursday(26/4), the committee said the turbine would have an unacceptable visual impact on the surrounding area and interfere with local ecology.

Kathleen Dobson, of the Birkrigg Farm Association, urged the committee to throw out the application on behalf of nearby residents.

She said: “This part of Cumbria – Ulverston – is beautiful and easy on the eye.

“What do we say to our children and our children’s children – that we didn’t give the required attention to this lovely area?

“This land is at risk, it should remain as it was – untouched for hundreds of years.”

Barrow and District Scouts Group, which has owned the adjacent land since the 1950s, had raised concerns about the noise impact of the proposed turbine when they use the site for camping trips.

Ulverston Cllr Janette Jenkinson said: “It seems in this district we are becoming the turbine centre for South Lakeland.

“It has worried me ever since we gave permission to Channel House Farm – the number of applications now coming through is increasing.”

Cllr Alan Baverstock, another planning committee member, said the structure was unattractive and “industrial-looking”.

“This isn’t the location for this, it’s utterly inappropriate,” he said. “I have made the case before about the number of opportunist applicants for single turbines coming forward.

“This industrial structure has the appearance of a Meccano kit.

“You need to put in a decent design if you want to persuade this planning committee it’s appropriate.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/05/01/turbine-vetoed-on-land-untouched-for-centuries/