May 30, 2013
England

Plan to erect wind turbine on farm rejected by Allerdale council

By Sarah Moore | 30 May 2013 | www.in-cumbria.com

Planners have thrown out proposals for a 114ft tall wind turbine at Mealsgate after objections over the impact on tourism.

The plans, which were lodged by a farmer, would spoil residents’ views and put off tourists, Allerdale council heard.

Lesley Douglas, Allhallows parish councillor, said: “I understand that farms must diversify but it comes at high costs.”

She said a parish survey showed that most residents were opposed to onshore turbines affecting their amenity.

She added: “The cumulative affect of all these turbines in our area is getting quiet suffocating for everyone.”

Adrian Brown said: “This turbine is another huge industrial machine in a peaceful rural location where agriculture is the main activity.”

Andrew Wilson said the area was a place of tranquillity rich in history, but the draw of its listed buildings and deserted medieval village to tourists was being threatened by wind turbines.

He added: “Tourists will not stay in this area if the Ellen Valley is encroached upon. Tourism is the goose that lays the golden egg in Cumbria.”

But Jon Kemp, representing the farmer, said the plan should be looked at in context and many of the concerns raised were not relevant.

He said: “This is by no means a large-scale turbine. It’s a farm-scale turbine at the low end of the range in size.”

He added that the nearest homes were more than 290m (300 yards) away, the turbine would not dominate the landscape and none of the statutory consultees involved in history, such as English Heritage, had objected to the scheme.

The plan attracted 45 letters of objection and five of support.

Allhallows and Boltons parish councils both objected to the plan.

Planning officers recommended that the scheme should be approved.

But councillors refused planning permission by eight votes to four on the grounds of its visual and cumulative impact and the sensitive nature of the development in open space.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/05/30/plan-to-erect-wind-turbine-on-farm-rejected-by-allerdale-council/