September 21, 2013
England

Turbine plan is approved – despite 615 objections

Thursday, September 19, 2013, By Marcus Boocock, nottinghampost.com

Severn Trent Water has been given permission to build the 100-metre turbine at its sewage works in Stoke Bardolph.

Members of Gedling Borough Council’s planning committee approved the move last night in spite of huge opposition from some committee members, residents of Stoke Bardolph and other nearby villages, and parish councils.

A total of 615 letters of objection had been sent to the borough council – with just nine letters backing it.

Objectors included the Gedling Sports Forum, the Gunn and Moore South Nottinghamshire Cricket League and Nottinghamshire Cricket Board Ltd.

After the 50-minute debate, one woman from nearby Woodborough said: “It’s disgraceful. We are supposed to have a public voice. All of those people voiced their opinion. But it has gone unheard.”

Burton Joyce parish councillor Steve Cluff, who spoke against the proposal during the meeting, refused to rule out seeking a judicial review to overturn the committee’s decision.

He told the Post: “We will study the decision and see what, if anything, can be done.”

During the meeting he claimed the proposal was not different enough from a previous application by Severn Trent, which was rejected by the borough council.

That one included two turbines rather than one, which would both have been higher at 132 metres.

But Mr Cluff told the meeting: “We have one less [turbine] and at a reduced height. But this is still huge – higher than the Victoria Centre flats. This is unacceptable.”

The water company says it will operate the turbine at Stoke Lane for the next 25 years. It predicts it will provide enough electricity to power 1,526 homes.

Ahead of the debate, a representative of Severn Trent told councillors the firm has also pledged to donate £25,000 for community facilities.

But that wasn’t enough to persuade Councillor Chris Barnfather, who was among three members who voted against it, pointing to the number of objectors and the fact it was on green-belt land.

He said: “This is a huge structure on a flat flood plain. This is an application on the same site. We have some variations but this should not alter the decision made 18 months ago.”

Councillor Marje Paling rubbished green-belt-related concerns, adding: “It will protect the green belt from other development.”

Councillor Peter Barnes said: “I think that the application is more acceptable than last time. I don’t see any problem with it.”

After the meeting, Roger Steele, of the Nottingham Pro-Wind Alliance, said: “We are delighted with the decision that has been made.”