January 9, 2015
England

Parish councillors vote against bid to build turbines in Gillingham

Amy Smith | Eastern Daily Press | January 9, 2015 | www.edp24.co.uk

An application to build two 60kw wind turbines on farmland in Gillingham has been recommended for refusal by parish councillors.

More than 40 residents from the village and surrounding areas attended the meeting of Gillingham Parish Council, speaking both for and against the bid.

The turbines would be built on land to the north of Hill Farm House in Yarmouth Road, and would measure 22m to the hub with three 12m blades.

However parish councillors voted to recommend the application for refusal, raising concerns about the visual impact of a large structure on an area of outstanding beauty by the River Waveney.

They also raised concerns about the close proximity to listed buildings and nearby houses and the impact the turbines would have on wildlife and the environment in the absence of an environment report from the applicant.

The aim of the development is to provide Hill Farm and its associated operating costs with a source of reliable and sustainable energy, with any excess power being fed into the local grid network.

Inn the planning statement, submitted by the agent Green Power Solutions UK Ltd, it says that the scale, height and location of the proposed turbines will not pose significant harm to the open landscape, they will have minimal impact on local ecology and will not give rise to unreasonable noise levels at any nearby noise sensitive properties.

A decision will now be made by South Norfolk Council.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/01/09/parish-councillors-vote-against-bid-to-build-turbines-in-gillingham/