July 19, 2013
England

Wind turbine causes a stir over dividing up of money

Tamworth Herald | July 19, 2013 | www.thisistamworth.co.uk

Plans to build a wind turbine on the border of North Warwickshire and Tamworth caused a stir after complaints were made over the “divvying up” of a Community Benefit Fund.

Moto Service Station on the M42 services area in Green Lane, Dordon, applied to vary its application for a 67 metre high wind turbine on its site adjacent to the HGV parking area.

North Warwickshire Borough Council’s planning board refused permission for the turbine, which was overturned on appeal and the go-ahead was given in January.

The varied plans would see the turbine generate surplus electricity suffice to fuel 388 homes (previously 192).

The offer of a Community Benefit Fund of £20,000 is proposed, with head of planning at the council, Jeff Brown, suggesting it be split 50-50 with Tamworth Borough Council and also made a personal suggestion North Warwickshire’s half go towards the Birchmoor Recreation Area.

His comments were not met with approval by Curdworth Councillor Mark Simpson (Conservative).

He said: “I think we should leave the filthy question over how the £20,000 is spent, it is entirely inappropriate to decide how the money is split at this stage.

“If we start looking at how money is split it will lead to significant questions how a decision is made, as opposed to a decision when no money is involved.”

Chairman of the planning board, which met on Monday, Cllr Ray Sweet (Labour), said: “We never determine applications by Section 106 agreements, we never have and we never will.”

Curdworth Cllr Joan Lea (Conservative) said: “If something was to happen in Tamworth of a similar nature that effects us, would we get half?”

The application was discussed for notification purposes only.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/07/19/wind-turbine-causes-a-stir-over-dividing-up-of-money/