May 20, 2014
England

Wyverstone: Refusal of wind turbine plan is backed by parish council

Matt Hunter | East Anglian Daily Times | May 20, 2014 | www.eadt.co.uk

Parishioners have hailed the decision to throw out plans for a wind turbine in the village as it would have had an “overbearing” and “detrimental” effect.

Temporis Wind Limited applied for permission to build a 77metre-high turbine in Potash Lane, Wyverstone, near Stowmarket.

The firm claimed it would provide electricity to supply nearly 290 homes – almost 85% of homes in the village and nearby Westhorpe and Great Ashfield parishes. Some 675 tonnes of carbon dioxide would be prevented from being emitted into the atmosphere and an annual community fund of £2,000 would be contributed, the company’s bosses said.

But Mid Suffolk district councillors backed planners when they recommended refusal of the proposal and declined the application.

The council said the turbine would be “detrimental” to the area’s character and be “overbearing” in terms of its siting and size.

Wyverstone Parish Council was also against the proposal.

Andy Mellen, the council’s vice-chairman, said: “I think most people in the community were against it so the council’s decision is a relief.

“I think the general feeling was that we have an open and flat countryside and so an industrial structure would very much change the character of the landscape.”

He added that there were also some concerns about noise and shadow flicker.

The turbine plan grabbed the attention of villagers, with more than 220 public comments submitted to the online application.

John Bean, the parish clerk, said: “I do not live in the village but there’s people in Wyverstone that did object to it.

“The parish council went against it in part because the effect it could have had on properties.”

Ian Johnston, from Temporis, said: “We are certainly reviewing the reasons for refusal and based on that will decide whether to appeal the decision.”


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/05/20/wyverstone-refusal-of-wind-turbine-plan-is-backed-by-parish-council/