October 16, 2012
England

Mast gets go-ahead

By Brian Tilley | Hexham Courant | 15 October 2012 | www.hexhamcourant.co.uk

The spectre of yet more wind turbines is looming over the wild hills of Wannie.

For permission has been granted for a 50m meteorological mast on land at East Woodburn, which could lead to the building of still more turbines in Tynedale’s own Valley of the Windmills.

The 18-turbine site at Green Rigg is soon to come on stream, and that will be followed by another 16 125m high turbines at Lord Davenport’s Ray Estate a few miles away at Kirkwhelpington.

The application for the monitoring mast attracted seven letters of objection when it went before Northumberland County Council’s central planning committee last week.

Residents feared it would be a precursor to yet another windfarm in the area and had concerns about the effect on property values, as well as local wildlife.

One commented: “It is unjust that local communities who live and work around farms seem to have no voice against the large companies seducing farmers with subsidies from the Government.”

However, planning officer Sarah Seabury made it clear that a decision to grant a temporary planning permission for the mast would not prejudice any decision that the council may subsequently make in respect of a future application for wind turbines on the site.

She said: “The anemometer mast is required to collect baseline data to assist in the assessment of whether this site would be viable for a windfarm development.

“National planning policy says that local planning authorities should apply a presumption in favour of such development.”

The mast would remain in place for 12 months to take readings of wind strength and direction. Approval was given.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/10/16/mast-gets-go-ahead/