Village turbine bids rejected by planners

Credit: By James Brindle | 19/02/2013 | www.uttoxeter-news.co.uk ~~

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Planners in Uttoxeter have shown their stance on rural wind turbines by rejecting three proposals – going against their officers recommendations.

East Staffordshire Borough Council’s planning committee were faced with three separate proposals for similar-sized wind turbines in rural areas near Uttoxeter.

Each of the plans for turbines on farms in Abbots Bromley, Marchington Woodlands and Netherland Green had all been recommended for approval by planning officer’s at the authority prior to the committee meeting.

In all cases objections had been lodged by neighbours and parish council’s, many concerned the permitting of the turbines would set a precedent for future applications.

In rejecting all three planning applications, the committee gave the reason that it felt the proposals would ‘introduce an incongruous landscape element causing visual harm outweighing the benefits associated with the generation of renewable energy’.

In the case of the proposal for a 65kW wind turbine measuring 32.6 metres at Smallwood Manor Farm in Uttoxeter Road, Netherland Green, planners gave additional reasons for rejecting the plans.

It said the proposal ‘fails to preserve the setting of the grade II listed buildings at Smallwood Manor’ and would ‘detrimentally affect the amenities currently enjoyed by the occupiers of nearby properties’.

Another of the proposals, for a 50kW turbine measuring 46.3 metres at Dunsfields Farm, Marchington Woodlands, planners also believed the plans would have a detrimental affect on the amenities of neighbours to the site.

It also felt the proposal ‘fails to preserve the setting of the grade II listed building at Park Lodge’.

In its objections to both proposals Marchington Parish Council had said: “Once this application is granted every farmer, small holder and every factory will be clamouring for similar planning to erect 75 to 100ft plus turbines.

“Once one is erected, precedent is set. Soon this rural green land will be filled with white rotating blades high above the earth.”

The applicants now have six months to decide whether they wish to appeal.

Source: By James Brindle | 19/02/2013 | www.uttoxeter-news.co.uk

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