February 25, 2014
England

Residents ready to fight plans for 252ft turbine

Written by GARETH BUTTERFIELD | Ashbourne News Telegraph | 24 February 2014 | www.ashbournenewstelegraph.co.uk

A group of villagers say they will fight a forthcoming planning application to erect a 252ft wind turbine in their parish that they believe will be visible from as far away as Birmingham.

Residents in Cubley are in talks to form a group called Cubley Against Wind Turbines (CAWT) to raise awareness of a planning application due to be submitted to Derbyshire Dales District Council next month.

The applicant Ashby-based wind energy firm Hallmark Power, has written to people living near to the site, close to the A515 between Ashbourne and Sudbury at Vernons Oak Farm in Oak Lane describing the project and its environmental benefits.

The company, which owns nearby tractor dealership Hallmark Tractors, is pushing the plans through on behalf of the land owner and says the turbine, which measures 77m to the hub, would provide enough energy to power around 350 houses all year round.

Villagers have been in talks with people living in other parishes which have got together to form petitions as they say it would have a ‘devastating effect on the unspoilt rolling farmland of the south dales area.’

Although the planned turbine installation is still subject to a landscape assessment by planning officers, people living nearby believe the turbine would dominate the skyline as far as Darley Moor and be visible from as far away as the outskirts of Birmingham.

David Wheeler, Hallmark Power’s wind energy rental manager explained why the consultation had started early.

He said: “There is a certain group of the population that feels very strongly about wind turbines.

“It’s a vociferous minority which is why we opened the consultation ahead of the planning application being formally submitted.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/02/25/residents-ready-to-fight-plans-for-252ft-turbine/