April 30, 2013
England

Wind turbine plan rejected

Driffield Times & Post | 30 April 2013 | www.driffieldtoday.co.ukDriffield Times & Post | 30 April 2013 | www.driffieldtoday.co.uk

A proposal to erect a wind turbine in Skerne has been refused by a council committee.

At a meeting of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Eastern Area Planning Sub Committee on Monday 29 April the plan to build a 61 metre to blade tip wind turbine in Skerne was rejected.

The application, concerning agricultural land close to Spring Farm, Skerne was made by Harmony Energy.

The application was rejected following a casting vote by committee chair, Councillor Nigel Pearson based on the impact it would have on the area, and the accumulative impact the number of wind turbines are having on the East Riding.

Peter Kavanagh, director of Harmony Energy, said: “We will be taking this one to appeal on the basis that the planning officer recommended it for approval and we reduced the head height of the turbines.

“The turbine would be nearly 600 metres from the nearest resident.

“We did go out of the way to make less of a significantly big impact. It is less than half the size of some of the wind turbines in the county.

“We will be going for full cost from the council they have kind of left us with no option. It was very disappointing.”

The application initially received seven letters of support from local residents, including one letter from the National Farmers Union.

However 22 letters of objection were received opposing the proposal, citing reasons including the detrimental impact the turbine would have on the quality of the landscape and potential impact on protected species such as barn owls.

Skerne and Wansford Parish Council also objected to the proposal.

The wind turbine would have generated 1,300,000KWh of energy a year, equating to 90% of the energy used by Spring Farm.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/04/30/wind-turbine-plan-rejected-2/