March 8, 2014
England

Kingsley Holt residents celebrate after winning wind turbine fight

The Sentinel | March 06, 2014 | www.stokesentinel.co.uk

Controversial plans to install a 112-foot wind turbine in North Staffordshire have been dropped.

Urban Wind Limited had applied to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council to put up the 34.4-metre structure on land at High View Farm, in Kingsley Holt.

But following more than 600 objections from residents, who argued the turbine would be too noisy and unsightly, the application has now been withdrawn.

Residents who hit-out at the proposals have today spoken of their relief that their fight is over.

Ken Unwin, chairman of the action group, of Shawe Park Road, Kingsley Holt, said: “The three main issues we had with this application was the fact it would be an eyesore, it would be within 250 yards of some people’s houses and also it would be noisy.

“Not only that, but the size of it would mean that it would completely dominate not only the village but Cheadle and Churnet Valley too.

“We called a public meeting last month and about 150 people turned up on a bit of a miserable night, so that shows just how strong the feeling was against this proposal.

“We had a tremendous response from residents who objected to these plans,.

“We initially thought we could get 100 letters to the council but we ended up with around 600, which is incredible, and I would like to thank everyone who took the time to write in.

“We are all absolutely delighted that the application has been withdrawn. It really feels like a cloud has drifted away and that the sunshine has come out in our village again.

“I have no doubt that the planning officers, the planning committee, the applicant and the landowners know that nobody living in this village wants to see this wind turbine built.”

Julie Bull, of Hillcrest Avenue, Kingsley Holt, said: “A great deal of people in Kingsley and Kingsley Holt all came together and started a protest group to fight these plans. I would say there was probably more than 100 people involved, and all of those people are very relieved.”

Cheadle Town Councillor Ivor Lucas, of High Street, Kingsley, added: “The whole parish is very happy that these plans have been dropped and we are now keeping our fingers crossed that the applicants do not reapply in the future.

“I have told everybody to keep their eyes out for another application and I’m sure they all will because nobody wants this.

“We cannot afford to take any risks with applications like this by letting them slip through. I would like to congratulate Ken Unwin and the residents of Kingsley Holt for rallying together.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/03/08/kingsley-holt-residents-celebrate-after-winning-wind-turbine-fight/