February 17, 2015
England

Easthorpe wind turbine plans are withdrawn

Melton Times | 17 February 2015 | www.meltontimes.co.uk

Contentious proposals to build a wind turbine in Easthorpe, in the Vale of Belvoir, have been withdrawn by the applicants for a second time – to the relief of campaigners.

Plans to install a 112-feet-high turbine in a field to the south of the A52 were set to be heard by Melton Council’s planning committee on Thursday.

But an email sent to the council yesterday (Monday) confirmed that the applicant, James Goodson, had ‘decided that the best course of action was to withdraw the application’.

Melton Council planning officers had recommended for committee members to refuse the application on grounds including that it would have ‘introduced a new element into the landscape which would be directly in the line of sight between Belvoir Castle and the spire of St Mary’s Church, Bottesford’ and would therefore have had ‘an adverse impact on the setting and visual amenity of these important heritage assets’.

A previous application submitted by Mr Goodson in 2013 – to erect a 150-feet-high turbine in the same site – had been recommended to be approved by officers but the decision was deferred pending additional advertising. The application was subsequently called in by the Secretary of State which led to its eventual withdrawal.

Jamie Mawer, of the Belvoir Locals Oppose Turbines (BLOT) group, said: “We welcome the withdrawal. It will allow the committee more time to deal with other matters.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/02/17/easthorpe-wind-turbine-plans-are-withdrawn/