February 16, 2014
England

Activists celebrate as wind turbine is rejected

Written by JOANNA CRAIG | 16 February 2014 | www.uttoxeter-news.co.uk

In the space of ten days, activists put together their case against a proposed wind turbine which would affect residents in Tean and won.

The turbine was to stand at 46.5-metres high at Fields Farm in Draycott Cross, and it was found that it would affect residents as far as Tean just days before the turbine was to be discussed at a planning meeting.

Now planning officials on the Staffordshire Moorlands committee have agreed to improve the transparency of the planning process, so that everyone affected can have their say on applications affecting their area, even if the application is put in for a different parish.

Keith Flunder, chairman of the Staffordshire Turbine Action Group, said: “Four turbines were discussed at the meeting, two smaller ones, one 30-metre one and one 46.5-metre one which was the largest one ever for the Staffordshire Moorlands, which was the one at Draycott Cross.

“It took roughly ten days to put any defence together and this was quite a short space of time.

“As we missed the original application going in, it was miraculous that we managed to get a good case together in time.

“It makes sense – no one in the immediate area wants the turbine and due to the height it would impact on people as far as Tean, though they were not originally consulted.

“After the meeting with the Moorlands planning officials, it was clear that the councillors were mindful of the concerns raised by the public and have agreed in future to inform everyone affected and not just those in the immediate parish.

“This is very important for future applications.

“All four turbines brought up at the meeting were rejected.”

The turbine, which was be built on a greenfields site on open farmland, would have been seen for miles around.

Keith Flunder of the Staffordshire Turbine Action Group has said there was a ‘clear lack of consultation’ in the area.

Mr Flunder said: “It’s important for any turbine application that the final decision is put in the hands of those who will be affected.

“It’s worrying that these kind of applications have been allowed to progress this far without any consultation with the parishes affected.

“I was very concerned about the impact that this turbine would have had on residents of Tean and I urge anyone affected by wind turbine applications to write their letters of objection to planning authorities to make their voice heard.”

“Looking at the application, it was clear from the viewing plan that the turbine would have been seen by people in Tean.

“Like the other turbines in the area, there is absolutely no benefit to the community or to the people who will be affected.

“It is just a money-making scheme on the part of the companies who have approached the farms for permission to use their land.”

Further information on a number of wind turbine applications in the area is available online at www.bramshallagainstturbines.org.uk.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/02/16/activists-celebrate-as-wind-turbine-is-rejected/