March 5, 2013
England

Green light for J10 wind mast

Bicester Advertiser & Review | Published on Monday 4 March 2013 | www.buckinghamtoday.co.uk

A 60-metre wind-monitoring mast is set to be installed at the Cherwell Valley Services on the M40 near Bicester as the first step in building a wind turbine.

Despite opposition from Stoke Lyne Parish Council, members of Cherwell District Council’s planning committee approved the application last Thursday.

The temporary mast can stay in place for up to two years.

Plans for an 85-metre wind turbine and monitoring mast at the services had already been approved in 2011, but have been on hold since then, pending the outcome of an appeal over plans to build a windfarm at Fewcott near Ardley.

Stoke Lyne Parish Council objects strongly to anything that may lead to an “unsightly” wind turbine, and says the site is not a suitable location.

The Environment Agency also indicated a wind turbine on the site could pose a flood risk, if it was not subject to conditions.

Seren Energy, which submitted the plans, said it needed a mast on site to model wind shear and for energy yield prediction.

The firm also said it would be easier to get funding for the turbine if it could get on-site data.

Seren Energy said it had asked the Fewcott windfarm developer about buying its data, but said the cost was prohibitively expensive.

Cherwell Valley services reopened early last year after a huge fire in 2010. The new zero-carbon services boast green features including a ground-source heat pump and electric car charging points.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/03/05/green-light-for-j10-wind-mast/