May 3, 2013
England

Fourth Darwen wind turbine plan is thrown out

By Dan Clough, Reporter | This Is Lancashire | 3rd May 2013 | www.thisislancashire.co.uk

Darwen’s MP says he is delighted that plans to erect a wind turbine on land near Bull Hill have again been turned down by planning officers.

Elizabeth Gott, owner of Pleasant View Farm, had applied to put up a turbine measuring 67 metres from base to blade tip on her land.

It was the fourth time a variation of the planning application had been submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Rejecting the application under delegated powers, planning officers said: “The proposal is considered to be an unavoidable feature that would have a dominant and oppressive impact on adjacent dwellings and garden areas, thereby having an unacceptable adverse impact on the amenity of adjacent residents.”

Originally, Mrs Gott applied for an 88.5-metre turbine – taller than India Mill chimney – in late 2011, which sparked a furious reaction.

Protest group Against Cranberry Turbine (ACT) was set up to fight the proposal, which was withdrawn in March last year, only for a revised second application for a 65-metre turbine to be resubmitted and thrown out by planners in October.

A third application was submitted in February, but it was again withdrawn, before a new application was submitted.

Martin Vizzard, from ACT, said: “We are happy that the plan has been rejected.

“We had some concerns that residents would not been afforded protection from the noise of the turbines.

“We would still like to speak to the developer and would promote that if they were going to submit any further plans, to hold an open evening or event.”

Darwen MP Jake Berry, who backed the campaign against the wind turbine from the beginning, said he welcomed the decision.

He said: “I think it is excellent news it has been turned down.

“I am concerned that Darwen could be swamped by these turbines close to residential properties.

“I hope Blackburn with Darwen Council continues to turn down applications of this nature.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/05/03/fourth-darwen-wind-turbine-plan-is-thrown-out/