July 2, 2012
England

‘Devastated’ about turbine

Northumberland Gazette | www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk 2 July 2012

A villager has described being ‘totally devastated’ about plans to erect a 30-metre-high wind tubrine on smallholding land at Thropton.

A proposal has been submitted to Northumberland County Council to erect the windmill on land at Raburn Cottage, on Physic Lane.

Owners want to use renewable energy to provide electricity to their home and smallholding.

But the plans have been met with instant disapproval from local residents, and the village’s county councillor.

David Neve, who lives on Physic Lane, has submitted a formal objection to the plans.

He said: “I am not against wind power but I am totally devastated by the developers’ application to site a massive wind turbine that will do ten times more than this home requires.

“It appears to be like a commercial thing and its location is accessed through a public bridleway and footpath.

“There is a hill fort, a scheduled ancient monument, just yards away.”

He also raised concerns about small access roads having to be used to transport the turbine if the plan is given the go ahead.

County councillor Steven Bridgett said: “I have objected to the turbine on two planning grounds.

“Firstly , the Core Strategy which is one of the governing documents for planning decisions made by Northumberland County Council clearly states that ‘the high landscape value of this area makes it unsuitable for windfarm development’.

“And secondly I have concerns regarding the proximity of the proposed turbine to the Westhills Iron Age Hill Fort – which is a registered Scheduled Ancient Monument.

“As the local councillor I have secured an extension to the consultation period to allow many residents who were not made aware of the application to have the opportunity to comment.

“I have also referred the application to the planning committee to allow councillors to determine the application rather than it being determined by the planners under delegated powers.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/07/02/devastated-about-turbine/