May 31, 2012
Scotland

English ban on turbines a turning point, say Scottish wind farm foes

By Bill Caven, Scottish Daily Mail, 31 May 2012

Scottish opponents of wind farms were last night hoping that an English court ruling banning a giant turbines plan will be the start of a fightback against intrusive projects.

They welcomed a landmark decision by an English High Court judge that landscape preservation was more important than renewable energy targets.

Mrs Justice Lang ruled that four 350ft turbines at Hemsby, near the Norfolk Broads, would harm the area’s character and appearance.

Campaigners say the decision sets no legal precedent here but they believe it could be referred to in court cases and will provide a rallying point for objectors fighting the march of wind farms across Scotland. A spokesman for Communities Against Turbines said: ‘This is a clear message that developers cannot expect that climate change gives them a licence to plonk industrial turbines wherever they like.

‘This is a sea-change which we are also beginning to witness in Scotland.’

She added that only last week Scottish ministers threw out an appeal by a Fife farmer for three 90ft turbines because their contribution to energy targets did not outweigh the damage to people’s enjoyment of the countryside.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/05/31/english-ban-on-turbines-a-turning-point-say-scottish-wind-farm-foes/