February 5, 2013
Wales

New bid for Pembrokeshire’s tallest wind turbines withdrawn from planning committee

Western Telegraph | 5th February 2013 | www.westerntelegraph.co.uk

The controversial proposal for Pembrokeshire’s tallest wind turbines was withdrawn from the county council’s planning agenda this morning (Tuesday), just an hour before it was due to be discussed.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning and rights of way committee was due to redetermine the application by Princes Gate Spring Water which was back up for consideration – with a recommendation for approval – after being quashed following a legal challenge by protestors.

The company wants to erect the pair of 86.5 metre-high, 800kw turbines at Middleton Top, Ludchurch to help power their new, state-of-the-art bottling plant.

Residents threatened a judicial review after permission for the turbines was originally granted last July. The council decided not to contest the challenge and submitted to judgement on the basis that the report to committee had not properly applied Policy 84 of the Joint Unitary Development Plan to the proposal over impacts on the nationally-important archaeological site of Castell Meherin.

This policy states that development which adversely affects important archaeological remains will not be permitted.

The report to today’s committee had been amended in the light of the matters raised by the legal challenge, including ‘a more precise analysis’ of Policy 84, members were told.

Approval was recommended on the grounds that the plan‘s ‘limited adverse effects’ on the landscape, the historic environment, the living conditions of local residents or highway safety would be outweighed by the scheme’s contribution to renewable energy production.

However, notification was issued by the council at 9am this morning that the plan had been withdrawn from the agenda.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/02/05/new-bid-for-pembrokeshires-tallest-wind-turbines-withdrawn-from-planning-committee/