October 18, 2012
England

Proposal to put turbines near Roman attraction ‘must be deplored’

By Lichfield Mercury | Thursday, October 18, 2012 | www.lichfieldpeople.co.uk

Plans to erect a pair of wind turbines on green belt land near Letocetum, the Roman site at Wall, have been lambasted by Lichfield Civic Society.

The proposal, submitted to Lichfield District Council by agent Bowler Energy on behalf of village farmer Stuart Ryman, is to site the turbines on his land at Manor Farm.

The application maintains there would be “minimal” impact on the landscape and Wall’s conservation area – a point backed up by an archeological report commissioned by Bowler.

Alan Thompson, secretary of the civic society’s planning advisory group, claims the machines would be “seriously dominant” and “a commanding presence”.

Residents have also protested against the proposal, leafleting homes in the area and setting up a website.

“The pleasingly rural nature of the site preserves something that has long gone in the vicinity and as such has to be treasured,” said Mr Thompson.

“Anything that disrupts this limited reminder of the recent past must be deplored, especially by any structure as aggressively novel as wind turbines at such a commanding, visually prominent position.”

Measured from the ground to the tip of a blade at its tallest, the white-painted 50kw turbines would have an overall height of 46m.

“To claim that the turbines will be “small” just because they are measured against monsters of 100 metres simply won’t do as an argument, as 100-metre turbines are rarely imposed on such an intimate landscape inland,” added Mr Thompson.

Bowler Energy’s application submits: “The turbines proposed would not create any negative impact upon amenity through noise, traffic or pollution and any visual impact in the wider landscape would be minimal.”

It maintains any adverse impact would be offset by the “wider economic and environmental benefit” of renewable energy. The archeological report concludes there would be a “moderate averse” effect on some listed buildings in Wall conservation area.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/10/18/proposal-to-put-turbines-near-roman-attraction-must-be-deplored/