November 22, 2012
England

Concerns aired over wind and dairy farm plans for Lincolnshire Wolds near Saxby and Bonby

Scunthorpe Telegraph | November 22, 2012 | www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk

The firm behind a planned 16-turbine windfarm is considering its options after permission was granted for a 500-cow dairy unit on neighbouring land.

RWE npower Renewables is looking to site its turbines at Saxby Wold and has twice been refused permission by North Lincolnshire Council.

An appeal by the developer is due to be heard in February.

But bosses at the energy firm have raised concerns about the future of the project after plans were tabled for the dairy unit.

The dairy application, by Wilson Farms, includes two detached houses, which RWE npower bosses claim would jeopardise the windfarm scheme.

North Lincolnshire Council’s planning committee has granted outline permission for the dairy unit, which will create 10 jobs, at its latest meeting.

After the meeting, Mike Parker, head of onshore development at RWE npower, said: “We are naturally disappointed with the decision to grant permission for the dairy.

“We will now consider the implications for our proposed wind farm at Saxby Wold in light of our appeal hearing, which we expect to be held early next year.”

Councillors on the planning committee granted permission for the dairy unit, in line with a recommendation made by planning officers.

Among the main issues to be considered by the committee was the proposal’s impact on highways.

Robert Greenwood, speaking on behalf of the applicant, said traffic generation from the site would total 18 two-way movements per day.

This, he said, would increase to 21 two-way movements per day during harvesting time in July.

Councillor Nigel Sherwood said he had concerns relating to highways, as the movements would be along country lanes.

But he said: “At the end of the day, you have to look at this as an application for 500 cows.

“Where do you put them – Brigg Market Place or Scunthorpe High Street?

“Cows belong in the countryside and, as a nation, if we want milk and there is a demand, then cows produce the milk.”

Harry Wilson, of Wilson Farms, said he was pleased with the committee’s decision to grant outline permission for the unit.

Mr Wilson said the next step would be to ensure the proposal met all requirements and gained full approval.

He said: “It is going to take a little while and there is a bit more work to do yet, but we are very pleased with the outcome.

“It has been a long fight and three years since we started but the result is right.

“It is going to be six to 12 months before we get the reserved matters approved.”

Mr Wilson said he did not expect building work on the unit to begin for another four years and expected construction to take 12 months.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/11/22/concerns-aired-over-wind-and-dairy-farm-plans-for-lincolnshire-wolds-near-saxby-and-bonby/