June 27, 2014
England

Energy firm launches appeal over Tetney wind farm decision

East Lindsey Target | Posted: June 27, 2014 | www.eastlindseytarget.co.uk

An energy firm has launched an appeal after it said planners took too long to reach a decision on a wind farm near Tetney.

ASC Renewables has lodged the appeal because it believes planners at East Lindsey District Council have had enough time to vote on the proposals for eight turbines at Bishopthorpe Farm.

Now the Planning Inspectorate will investigate the appeal on the basis of a so-called “non-determination”.

ASC’s operations director, Mike Denny, said: “We’re extremely disappointed to have to resort to an appeal for non-determination. We’ve worked incredibly hard with the council to develop a really robust application.”

East Lindsey District Council’s planning committee was unable to draw up a full conclusion on whether to grant permission or not before the expected date of November 6 last year. The council extended this for a month to look at additional environmental given by the applicant.

A further council request for another extension was then refused by the renewable energy company, which has now launched an appeal which could lead to a large bill for the taxpayer.

A report, which asked the ELDC planning committee to consider the main issues of the site, said if the council had been in a position to vote, it would have refused.

Vocal anti-wind farm campaigner Melvyn Grosvenor, a member of the Marsh Windfarm Action Group, said: “ASC Renewables jumping to appeal is them trying to bypass democratic systems in place.”

The appeal process will start on August 5, with a hearing taking place over eight days.

ASC originally submitted plans for the proposal to East Lindsey District Council in September, 2012.

Since then, it says it has worked with the council, the community and other key stakeholders to provide additional information to address local concerns.

If planning permission is granted for the site, a scheme could see homes around the site receive a discount of at least £100 per year on their electricity bills thanks to the so-called Green Energy Credit Scheme.

Working in conjunction with a wider community benefit fund, the scheme will put back £2.5million into the community over the lifetime of the wind farm.

People working on behalf of ASC Renewables have been out in Louth town centre this week and gathered 800 signed petitions in support of the wind farm site.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/06/27/energy-firm-launches-appeal-over-tetney-wind-farm-decision/