January 2, 2013
England

Turbine is ditched over airport fears

The Star | 2 January 2013 | www.thestar.co.uk

Plans to build a wind turbine have been scrapped at the last minute after Doncaster Airport said the structure would interfere with radar equipment.

The airport lodged a late objection to plans to install the 11kw twin-bladed wind turbine on a landfill site at Scabba Wood, Sprotbrough.

Doncaster Council planning committee had been recommended to give the scheme the go-ahead.

An airport spokesman said: “It is a known fact that wind turbines located close to airports can impact on the airport’s radar equipment used to assist aircraft navigation, their take-off and landing.

“Due to the location of this particular wind turbine, this would impact on the radar equipment at Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield and, as a consequence, the airport objected to this planning application.

“There are some viable, proven ways to mitigate these issues, however to date none have been put forward by the developer.”

A spokesman from Doncaster Council said the plans were refused following the objections.

Robin Hood was not the only party to oppose the plans – 26 people objected in writing to the development, and two further objections were received from a councillor and a community group.

The primary concerns of the objectors were that the turbine would be detrimental to the rural landscape and property owners and that nearby villages would be disturbed by noise from the blades of the turbine.

It is not the first time the airport has raised concerns about proposals for wind turbines in the area.

An application to build a 29 metre tall turbine on land at Blackdyke Road, Owston Ferry, capable of producing 250kw of electricity, was rejected in May amid fears it could affect vital radar equipment at Robin Hood.

The Owston Ferry plans have since been re-submitted and are now set to go before North Lincolnshire Council planners for the second time.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/01/02/turbine-is-ditched-over-airport-fears/