June 13, 2013
England

Delight as wind farm is rejected

Scunthorpe Telegraph | June 13, 2013 | www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk

Campaigners are rejoicing after plans for a wind farm were rejected.

Plans to put up three 127m wind turbines on land in Winterton were turned down by North Lincolnshire Council’s planning committee.

Developer Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC) submitted the plans to put up the turbines at its Ironstone Quarry landfill site near Winterton.

Campaigners had fought furiously against the plans, which they said would have had a negative impact on the area.

And the council’s planning committee members unanimously backed them by throwing out the proposal.

The verdict was met with delight by Winterton residents and town councillors who strongly opposed the plans.

Speaking after the meeting, Winterton resident Dennis Littler, 80, from West Street, said: “I think there are far too many wind turbines. The area has got to be protected.”

Gordon Jackson, 65, from North Street, agreed, saying: “I am happy with the decision.

“We were worried about the impact these turbines would have had on the area.”

A number of fears had been raised last year about the impact of the proposals.

Residents expressed concerns over noise and the turbines being based too close to people’s homes.

Winterton Town Council had expressed concerns that there had been no risk assessment for the plans and said the development would be based on a hazardous waste site.

Winterton town mayor Francesca Marritt said: “The proposal would have a major impact on the landscape.

“I cannot support any application that would adversely affect the beautiful landscape.”

In deciding to reject the scheme, planners said the turbines would blight the landscape and impact on the ecology of the area.

They also said the turbines’ relationship to neighbouring properties was a concern.

Speaking after the meeting, Stuart Markham, of FCC Environment, said: “Naturally we are disappointed and somewhat surprised that the planning committee has gone against the recommendation of its own planning officers and voted to reject this application for three green energy turbines at Ironstone Quarry.

“We will now take time to review our options before deciding on our next move.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/06/13/delight-as-wind-farm-is-rejected/