June 3, 2012
England

Turbine plans halted by airport objections

Lancashire Evening Post, www.lep.co.uk 3 June 2012

A businessman has called time on his bid to build a wind turbine to power his home after hundreds of objections.

Ted Clayton said an objection from Blackpool International Airport to the proposed 25-metre turbine on Flag Lane, Penwortham was too much to get past planners at South Ribble Council.

His second attempt to get the plans passed was thrown out after attracting 523 letters of objection, including from the airport which warned the turbine may interfere with its radar.

It follows previous efforts which attracted hundreds of letters of objection from local people.

Mr Clayton said he had hoped to create a sustainable system to power his home during the winter when solar panels he is already running could not keep it heated.

He said: “If I thought I could get Blackpool Airport to accept the idea, I would have another go at it, but it seems as if there is no chance of them changing their position.

“There was no objection from BAE Systems for its aerodrome at Warton, even though they are closer.”

The proposals were rejected by the council’s planning committee at a meeting last Wednesday night.

Cathy Roper, a member of the Protect Little Hoole group which fought off plans for turbines in its village last year, said the turbine would tower over the neighbouring home.

She said: “No-one has any objections to trying to generate energy sustainably, but their are so many safety concerns connected with wind turbines.

“Mr Clayton has a number of solar on his property already and could quite easily generate power through that system without having the impact.”

Mr Clayton has an egg-packaging business at the address on Flag Lane, but said the turbine would only power his home.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/06/03/turbine-plans-halted-by-airport-objections/