December 24, 2012
England

Giant South Lakes turbine plan rejected

The Westmorland Gazette | 24 December 2012 | www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk

Councillors agreed to scrap plans for a 61 metre wind turbine after hearing emotional pleas from residents.

Planning committee mem-bers from South Lakeland District Council unanimously rejected proposals for the 200ft high turbine, which would have been built on land adjacent to the Colony Candles’ factory at Lindal-in-Furness.

The energy from the turbine would have been used to power the factory, gener-ating between 1,300 and 2,400 megawatts of energy a year, with all excess put into the National Grid.

But after hearing heartfelt arguments from local resi-dents, councillors turned down the application.

Resident David Stuart, who lives in a bungalow overlooking the site, said: “I believe it would have a ser-ious detrimental impact on the landscape and in particular on these bungalows, with both noise and appearance.

“I don’t believe the noise tests were taken in the best places and do not reflect the actual noise. Why can’t they put solar panels on the factory instead?”

Another resident, his voice choking, explained that he had worked hard to pay for a property in such a pict-uresque location, adding: “The people living in the bungalows would have to put up with the sight of this massive structure in their front lounge windows for the rest of their lives.”

The plans had previously been before Urswick, Pennington and Lindal and Marton Parish Councils, which all declined to support the plans.

The National Trust also refused to support the app-lication, while 18 letters of objection were received by the council.

Planning officers recomm-ended the application be refused, admitting the turbine would be ‘incongruous’ in its surroundings.

Councillor Sheila Eccles said: “This is a beast of a structure and you have to remember that a wind turbine will be in position for 25 years.

“Depending how old you are now it could be for the rest of your lifetime.

“I think it’s pure selfishness on the behalf of the manufacturer to want a turbine of that size in that area.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/12/24/giant-south-lakes-turbine-plan-rejected/