April 8, 2015
England

Wind turbine plan for Lower Loxley is rejected for a second time by Government inspector

By Jenny Moody | Uttoxeter Advertiser | April 08, 2015 | uttoxeteradvertiser.co.uk

Plans for a giant wind turbine on land near Uttoxeter have been dealt another setback after they were dismissed by a Government inspector.

Hallmark Power Ltd, based in Ashby, Leicestershire, appealed to the Planning Inspectorate in an attempt to build a wind turbine on Caverswall Farm, Coppice Lane, in Lower Loxley.

It came after its plans were turned down by East Staffordshire Borough Council’s planning committee on grounds it would have an ‘unacceptable effect’ on aviation safety.

The proposal was for a 500kw wind turbine and associated infrastructure, which would include an access track to the site. The plan was originally submitted on July 31, 2013, before being refused on March 12, 2014.

However, Government inspector Brian Cook refused the application again after his report raised issues with the character and appearance of the area.

He also found there would be an effect on the protected species, particularly noctule bats, and it would cause issues for the living conditions of nearby residents with the noise the turbine would create.

The inspector’s report stated: “The proposed wind turbine would be positioned at one of the highest points on the ridge.

“It would stand about 50 metres to the hub and 74 metres to the blade tip and the three blades would sweep a path some 48 metres in diameter.

“It would, thus, be visible from the skyline from many directions and would be a large and uncharacteristic vertical feature in what is an essentially horizontal landscape that is characteristically reduced in scale by the stream valleys that direct views towards the valley sides and the ridges that form them.”

The inspector added that this would be noticeable from the nearby rights of way which provide access for construction vehicles and is used by the villagers.

The borough council took a similar view when considering the plans after hearing significant objections from residents living near the site.

Councillors decided there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate that turbines would not unacceptably harm protected species.

They also ruled the site would unacceptably affect aviation safety by way of interference with air traffic control infrastructure and there was insufficient information to demonstrate it would not unacceptably affect the amenities enjoyed by residents living nearby through the increased noise.

The authority decided that the damage it would cause would outweigh the benefits it would bring to the community and the power that it would supply.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/04/08/wind-turbine-plan-for-lower-loxley-is-rejected-for-a-second-time-by-government-inspector/