October 10, 2013
England

79-metre wind turbine plans for Holsworthy refused

North Devon Journal | October 10, 2013 | www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk

A proposal to build a 79-metre wind turbine in Holsworthy has been refused.

Torridge District Council rejected the application for a single turbine at Halsdon Barton, Cookbury.

During the meeting, which was held last Thursday, members discussed the fact they had previously refused a turbine at Vaglefield Farm.

This decision was overturned at appeal by the planning inspectorate.

It was 350 metres away from the site of the new application.

The committee refused the Halsdon Barton application on the grounds that it would have a dramatic impact on the landscape.

Ivan Buxton, from the Campaign to Protect Rural England, spoke against the application.

“This turbine would be located in a district that has already been radically altered by a glut of such machines,” he said.

Nobody spoke in support of the application.

Councillor David Lausen said: “I am quite happy to support businesses who use small turbines but I do think this is too big and will spoil the landscape.”

However, Councillor Howard Ratledge did not think the application should be turned down.

He said: “We are going to open ourselves up to appeal again.”

Councillor Chris Leather said the council’s duty was to protect the landscape and balance it against the benefit the turbine would bring.

“Whatever the inspector said about Vaglefield doesn’t take away from what our community decided last time,” he said.

Two councillors voted for the application, six voted against.

Penny Mills, Chairman of the Torridge branch of CPRE said the group was pleased with the committee’s decision.

She said: “The CPRE believed that by allowing one large turbine right next to another would create a precedent to double up existing single turbines.

“The CPRE reminded the committee they refused the turbine at Vaglefield earlier in the year because they believed it was too large in that location.”

Mrs Mills said if too many single turbines are approved the impact on the countryside would be devastating.

She said: “Once all these giant noisy industrial machines in this area are built I believe the cumulative effect on our landscape here will be terrible.”

Joe Winton from developer One Wind Renewables said the company was acting on behalf of a client and could not comment on the refusal of the Halsdon Barton turbine.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/10/10/79-metre-wind-turbine-plans-for-holsworthy-refused/