December 14, 2012
England

Iconic dale view is saved as turbine plan is abandoned

Teesdale Mercury | Dec 13, 2012 | www.teesdalemercury.co.uk

Plans for a wind turbine, which objectors feared would ruin one of the most iconic views in Teesdale, have been abandoned.

Kirkcarrion, a copse of pine trees on a hill near Middleton-in-Teesdale, is said to be the burial place of a Bronze Age chieftain.

But there were concerns the view would be marred by a 20-metre wind turbine which was proposed for Lonton South Farm.

Applicant Cyril Watson withdrew the plans last month. One of the reasons given was a reduction in cash available through the Government’s feed-in tariff scheme.

He said: “We wanted to put it further up the hill but the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) were not happy with it.

“They wanted it behind the house but there are too many trees there to make it work. Things kept being delayed and we could not get the turbine up before the feed-in tariff cut-off point at the beginning of December. The idea has been abandoned.”

Kathryn Towler, clerk to Mickleton Parish Council, said village councillors were worried the size of the turbine and other similar planning applications in the future.

One resident wrote to the council to urge refusal, saying the area was unspoilt and feared wind turbine would jeopardise tourism.

“Unless the present application is refused, it is only to be expected that further similar applications would be made throughout the length and breadth of the dale,” they said.

“These could not reasonably be rejected as a precedent would have been set with the ultimately disastrous consequences for the reputation of Teesdale as a beautiful and desirable place to live or visit.”

Hunderthwaite resident Paul Wallington said the “sheer size” of the turbine would be “visually destructive” and would have been seen for miles around.

In his objection letter, he said: “The intrinsic beauty of the position of the Iron Age site of Kirkcarrion would be greatly adversely affected.

“This wind turbine would more seriously affect the environs of Kirkcarrion than anything since it was built over a millennia ago.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/12/14/iconic-dale-view-is-saved-as-turbine-plan-is-abandoned/