January 25, 2014
England

Little Haywoods residents celebrate scotched plans for wind turbine

By Kerry Ashdown | Staffordshire Newsletter | Posted: January 23, 2014 | www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk

Residents in Little Haywood were celebrating this week after controversial plans to build a 242-foot-high wind turbine near two Stafford beauty spots were rejected.

Caddick Renewables Ltd wanted to install the turbine on land south of Far Coley Farm in Coley Lane, Little Haywood.

Some 176 residents objected along with Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy, several parish councils, The Ramblers, English Heritage and Cannock Chase Area of Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership.

At a meeting of Stafford Borough Council’s planning committee objector Christine Bagot said: “There has been an inadequate level of communication and no community engagement. The noise assessment doesn’t even meet your own environmental health requirements.”

Speaking for the applicant Rob Edwards said: “This is sufficient electricity to power approximately 380 houses.

“We recognise the concerns of the residents, however it’s a proposal supported by national policy.”

Ward councillor Alan Perkins said: “It will be harmful to the AONB and to wildlife and it will destroy agricultural land.”

Councillor Mike Winkle said: “Shugborough Hall and Cannock Chase are places where views have been enjoyed for hundreds of years and this would materially affect those historic views for several miles for maybe 50 or 60 years.”

Councillor Ann Edgeller said: “I cannot believe anybody wants to build such a monstrosity in a beautiful part of our area. It affects Shugborough and Cannock Chase. It’s an absolute eyesore.”

Proposing the application be refused Councillor Malcolm Millichap said: “Eric Pickles said we should take cogniscence of local opinion and we have had hundreds of people saying they don’t like this and neither do other consultees.”

The application was refused unanimously.

After the meeting a residents’ spokewoman said: “The villagers of Colwich, the Haywoods and Wolseley Bridge will be delighted. It would have had a devastating impact on our local landscape.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/01/25/little-haywoods-residents-celebrate-scotched-plans-for-wind-turbine/