September 7, 2014
England

Louth Canal turbine plan the latest to be refused by Secretary of State

East Lindsey Target | September 06, 2014 | www.eastlindseytarget.co.uk

Campaigners are claiming victory after a fourth wind turbine application in East Lindsey was kicked out by the Secretary of State.

The appeal by Partnerships for Renewables for three 113.5m high turbines at Louth Canal has been dismissed by Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

The application near Fen Lane, North Thoresby was refused by district planners in April last year and an appeal was then lodged by the applicants.

Following a public inquiry earlier this year, the appeal has been dismissed on the grounds there would be “considerable harm” to the significance of the Grade II listed Thoresby Warehouse and to the heritage asset of Louth Canal.

Consideration was also given to the living conditions at Eastfield Farm and Windy Ridge in combination with the Newton Marsh wind turbines.

Melvyn Grosvenor, who represents the Marsh Wind Farm Action Group, said communities are finally being listened to thanks to a change in Government policy.

He said: “There have been four very recent appeal decisions dismissing developers’ appeals against applications refused by East Lindsey District Council, strongly reflecting this new Government guidance and confirming ELDC planning were, in fact, justified in refusing these applications.

“It proves East Lindsey District Council is justified in their refusals and that gives confidence to local communities that East Lindsey have got it right.

“East Lindsey’s special landscape, its listed buildings and the local community concerns are all extremely important and must be taken into account.”

A spokesman for Partnerships for Renewables said: “Partnerships for Renewables is very disappointed with the decision of the Inspector and the Secretary of State with regards to the Louth Canal project.

“We continue to believe the site is appropriate for the three-turbine development we proposed and we feel that we made a powerful case in support of the project at the public inquiry.

“This decision provides further confirmation that the outlook for appealed projects in England that have been recovered by the Secretary of State remains very challenging.”

The three other applications recently dismissed by the Secretary of State were for single turbines at Causeway Bridge Farm in Manby, Calcethorpe and Mawthorpe Well.

Cllr Craig Leyland, portfolio holder for planning at East Lindsey District Council, said: “The Secretary of State has concluded that the benefits of the scheme would be outweighed by the combination of harm to the nationally listed Thoresby Warehouse and its setting and the harm that would be caused to the local landscape.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/09/07/louth-canal-turbine-plan-the-latest-to-be-refused-by-secretary-of-state/