April 9, 2013
England

NoPilrow celebrate Rooksbridge wind farm rejection

By Kirsty James | This is The West Country | 9th April 2013 | www.thisisthewestcountry.co.ukBy Kirsty James | This is The West Country | 9th April 2013 | www.thisisthewestcountry.co.uk

Campaigners against controversial plans for a wind farm in Rooksbridge are celebrating after the project was thrown out by planners.

A Sedgemoor District Council planning officer said Broadview Energy’s scheme, for four 130-metre turbines on land at Pilrow Farm, would “represent an unacceptable visual intrusion into the flat landscape of the Somerset Levels, particularly in respect of the harm to the views to and from Brent Knoll.”

Campaign group NoPilrow have welcomed the decision, with spokesman David Maund adding: “The planning department have made the point that the size of these turbines cannot be mitigated against by landscaping or other measures.”

The scheme attracted huge interest, with nearly 800 people writing to the district council to register their opinions.

Mr Maund added NoPilrow had kept up its opposition to the plans over the last two years. He said: “This application was not only rejected unanimously by East Brent Parish Council but by the four or five surrounding parish councils who would also have been affected by this project.

“The present Government’s view is that local people should have a majority say on planning issues and we very much hope Broadview Energy will now accept Sedgemoor District Planners’ decision should be the final word on this.”

Broadview Energy is expected to release a statement later today (Tuesday).


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/04/09/nopilrow-celebrate-rooksbridge-wind-farm-rejection/