July 11, 2012
England

Farmer’s turbine plan will blight valley landscape

The Post | www.thisisbristol.co.uk 11 July 2012

Residents are calling for plans to erect a wind turbine on green belt land in the Gordano Valley to be rejected.

Farmer Ivan Tyler wants to erect a 27 metre high microgeneration turbine, complete with 13 metre wide blades, on land at Kennel Farm, Clevedon Lane, Clapton-in-Gordano.

It is understood Mr Tyler wants the turbine to help generate electricity to enable him to start dairy farming on the site.

But the plans have prompted a string of objections from residents, the parish council and Avon Wildlife Trust who say the turbine could impact on local wildlife and blight the local landscape.

Clapton-in-Gordano Parish Council has objected saying the turbine would be a blot on the landscape.

The Ministry of Transport has also asked for a decision on the turbine to be put on hold because of its proximity to the M5 motorway and fears it could distract drivers.

The turbine would be located 250 metres away from and below the split section of the motorway.

Clapton-in-Gordano Parish Council chairman, Clive Roberts, said: “The Gordano Valley is an area of considerable beauty and this turbine will create a blight on the landscape.

“It will have an adverse visual impact and is also located close to nature reserves and conservation areas.

“Because of its size it will be seen from right across the Gordano Valley and we are concerned that if this is allowed it could set a precedent for other similar developments in the future.

“The application is also in the green belt and the parish council is unconvinced there are any special reasons for a development of this kind to be justified in a protected area.

“There are also concerns that the turbine could be a distraction for drivers on the M5 and for this reason the Ministry of Transport is now considering the application.”

So far the application has attracted more than 20 objections on the North Somerset Council planning website.

Avon Wildlife Trust says the turbine would be adjacent to the Weston Moor National Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSi) and Clapton Moor, a local wildlife site and that an ecological survey needs to be carried out.

A spokesman for the trust said: “Many breeding birds use the area, including lapwing, redshank and snipe and there is a project that aims to raise the water levels on the Weston Moor to improve the habitat for these waders.

“A wind turbine in the area could reduce the positive impacts that this project has, with snipe in particular noted in a survey as being greatly affected by wind turbines.

“Breeding birds are protected by law and an ecological survey should be carried out to fully assess the impacts that a micro generation turbine may have on wildlife.”

The application is due to be discussed by North Somerset Council later this month.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/07/11/farmers-turbine-plan-will-blight-valley-landscape/