January 25, 2013
England

Bolsover wind farm plans in a spin

By Nick Brimacombe | Published on Friday 25 January 2013 | www.chad.co.uk

Long-running plans to build two new wind farms overlooking Palterton, Scarcliffe and Stoney Houghton have been delayed by district planning officers.

Barlborough-based Banks Renewables, the company behind the planning application for the turbines near Glapwell Lane, say the project would bring substantial amounts of sustainable energy to the area but campaigners say it would create noise pollution and would impact on their homes.

The development has already been recommended for approval by Bolsover District Council but the authority’s planning committee has now halted progress on the application because of an unknown ‘procedural issue’.

The hold up is a blow for Losk Lane Wind Farm Ltd (which is run by Banks Renewables) as bosses believe the venture would bring more jobs and business opportunities to nearby communities.

Phil Dyke, development director at Banks Renewables, said: “Given that our Losk Lane wind farm planning application was recommended for approval by Bolsover District Council’s officers, we were hopeful that the planning committee members would chose to follow this advice.

“There was a degree of confusion over the votes that took place in the meeting and whether a final decision on our planning application was actually reached, and we’re currently seeking clarification from the council about their view of the situation.

“Renewing our aging energy generation and distribution infrastructure is becoming an increasingly priority for the UK.

“We need to both generate a far higher percentage of the energy that we all use from domestic renewable sources and become far less reliant on imported, fossil fuel-based energy supplies, and onshore wind farms like Losk Lane are already helping to address these twin challenges.

“We are confident that this is an entirely appropriate location for the sort of scheme we’re proposing, and hope to see this situation resolved as soon as possible.”

Palterton and Community Action Group are campaigning against the project.

Member Jayson Whitaker, of Palterton, said: “They will stand out and people will have to look out on a beautiful landscape and see a monstrosity.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/01/25/bolsover-wind-farm-plans-in-a-spin/