April 15, 2014
England

Action group celebrates wind turbine victory

Melton Times | 15 April 2014 | www.meltontimes.co.uk

Campaigners have won their two-and-a-half year battle against a proposed wind turbine in Thorpe Arnold, near Melton.

It was confirmed this week that planning inspector Zoe Hill had refused an appeal made by Steve Butler against Melton Council’s decision, in 2012, to refuse planning permission to build a 77-metre high turbine at Hindles Farm, Melton Spinney Road.

Action Group Leave Our Landscape Alone (LOLA) had been fighting against the turbine, supported by Melton MP Alan Duncan, since the group was formed in 2011.

Explaining her decision, Mrs Hill said: “Although I find this to be a finely balanced case, it seems to me that the visual intrusion and landscape harm which would occur over a significant distance, because of the topography and siting proposed, albeit reducing with distance, would not be justified by the extent of energy which would be produced.

“I therefore conclude that the harm outweighs the benefits and therefore the appeal is dismissed.”

LOLA chairman Stuart Lomas said: “After two-and-a-half years we’ve finally got the right result in our fight to prevent a large wind turbine blighting our countrywide.

“As an action group we shall continue to support other local groups in the county.

“We would like to thank everyone for their hard work, help and support over the years.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/04/15/action-group-celebrates-wind-turbine-victory/