November 6, 2014
England

Nelson protesters win wind turbine battle

By Katie Mercer, Reporter | Burnley and Pendle Citizen | 6 November 2014 | www.burnleycitizen.co.uk

Protesters have won their fight against plans for a 47-metre high wind turbine in Nelson after councillors voted unanimously against it.

At a packed council meeting, councillors debated the plans to erect the turbine in Back Lane that residents feared would spoil views of the borough’s countryside.

Campaigners turned out in force to oppose the application. They claimed the Southfield plans would spoil the outlook for both Walton Spire and the remains of the hill fort at Castercliff, and other opponents were worried about the impact on wildlife.

Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate and local County Councillor Azhar Ali attended the council chamber meeting and spoke in support of the residents, asking Nelson Area Committee to throw out the application.

County Councillor Azhar Ali said: “This application will be detrimental to visual amenity and harm the natural wildlife and local ecological systems in the area.”

He added: “It beggars belief that Pendle Council officers can recommend refusal in some parts of Pendle whilst supporting wind turbines in others.

“There is a clear problem with the way this Government is forcing councillors to approve crazy proposals which would destroy our beautiful countryside.”

County Coun Ali also made a plea, on behalf of residents, who claimed that they were suffering from sleep deprivation and noise nuisance from the existing turbine.

However, the applicant, supported by Wind Turbine Specialists DC21, intends to appeal the decision.

Charles Ashton, of DC21, said: “We will be appealing this decision and it is 100 per cent certain that we will win.

“Our application was in line with all planning laws and there is no reason to refuse it.

“It was only rejected because local councillors were playing party politics and trying to score points off one another.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/11/06/nelson-protesters-win-wind-turbine-battle/