January 24, 2013
England

Hewish residents start anti-wind turbine campaign

BBC News | 24 January 2013 | www.bbc.co.uk

An action group has been formed in an effort to stop a wind turbine being built close to a Somerset village.

Southern Wind Power (SWP) wants to put up a 67m-high turbine near Hewish, Crewkerne but some residents believe it is out of keeping with the landscape.

Protester, Matt Dobell said: “It’s going to overshadow and overpower this tiny village.”

SWP has said the land is not designated as protected so it would be suitable for a turbine of this size.

Laurence Smith, from SWP, said: “It is not classified as a sensitive area and it is much more difficult to put up turbines up in sensitive areas, like areas of outstanding natural beauty, or sites of special scientific interest.

“It’s very difficult to find sites especially for the medium to large turbines that tick all the right boxes.”

The firm has said the 500kW turbine would generate enough electricity a year for nearly 300 homes.

West Crewkerne Against Wind Turbine has said it hopes to raise awareness of the application in order to prevent it from going ahead.

South Somerset District Council is consulting on the application.

A date has not yet been set for the planning meeting when the decision will be made.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/01/24/hewish-residents-start-anti-wind-turbine-campaign/