November 11, 2012
England

Chilton residents delighted after controversial turbine plans are abandoned

By Catherine Priestley, Chief Reporter (Sedgefield) | The Advertiser | 11 November 2012 | www.theadvertiserseries.co.uk

Campaigners who fought a plan for wind turbines near their town are claiming victory after the proposal was abandoned.

Residents of Chilton, near Ferryhill, objected to a proposal to erect two 15-metre turbines on land at Park Hill, next to Chilton Hall.

The six-kilowatt turbines would have provided private energy at Coachman’s House, next to Chilton Hall.

But protestors argued that the turbines would be an eyesore for residents in the town and raised concerns about noise and health issues.

Chilton Town Council and Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson objected and a petition was signed by 374 people.

Mr Wilson felt the turbines would be ‘too obtrusive being so close to and in full sight of local homes’ and urged the council to consider the cumulative effect of existing wind farms and turbine applications. And councillors said the town already contributes to green energy initiatives, with Dalkia’s biomass power plant located in the town.

Campaigners were delighted this week to discover that the application had been withdrawn.

Paul Gray, clerk of Chilton Town Council, said: “We have had some good news about this plan. It just goes to show that public pressure can bring results and we got the result that we wanted.

“We’re not in favour of wind turbines at all and I think they have withdrawn the application as they saw how much opposition there was locally against this plan.”

Building consultant Brian Newman, the agent for the plan, confirmed the plan had been dropped but said his client had withdrawn the application predominantly due to issues relating to the radar used at Durham Tees Valley Airport.

Objecting the proposal, the airport’s strategic planning director, Peter Nears, had written: “The safe operation of the airport would be seriously compromised and we therefore wish to object to the proposal.”

A separate application for planning consent for a 17.5m turbine at Chilton East House, off Gypsy Lane, Chilton, has been submitted to the council. Consultation ends on November 22.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/11/11/chilton-residents-delighted-after-controversial-turbine-plans-are-abandoned/