May 18, 2015
England

Fury over wind turbine appeal

Market Rasen Mail | 17 May 2015 | www.marketrasenmail.co.uk

Residents in Caistor are fighting to stop an energy company winning a planning appeal to put a 102-metre wind turbine at the end of their lane.

Energy firm EDP Renewables has launched an appeal against West Lindsey District Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for a 102-metre wind turbine next to Caistor Equestrian Centre at the end of Moor Lane.

The council said the turbine would result in “unacceptable” harm to the setting of Caistor Conservation Area and that it would have a detrimental visual impact upon the views and setting of the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Moor Lane residents say the turbine would be too close to their homes and that the road surface in the lane would not be able to cope with the additional transport that would result from a turbine being 
put up.

In a planning statement EDP said the proposed wind turbine was an initiative of the landowner at Caistor Moor Farm to help towards securing the long term viability of Caistor Moor Farm, Caistor Equestrian Centre and The 
Forge.

Chris Barney, who has lived in Moor Lane with her husband for the past 47 years, has written to the Planning Inspectorate to express her concerns.

She said: “It shouldn’t be there.

“It just doesn’t seem fair to have it so close to homes, it’s too close to where people are 
living.

“The small lane can’t 
stand it.

“It used to be a dust road, then was adopted by highways, but it hasn’t got a proper road surface.

“It can’t stand the horse boxes that go up and down it now – it definitely wouldn’t be able to cope with transporting everything needed to put up a 102-metre turbine.

“And there’s an issue with flicker.”

But Mrs Barney said she was not against wind turbine in principle.

She said: “I’m not against wind turbines or renewable energy – we ourselves have solar panels.

“I just don’t think the place is down this tiny lane.”

In its appeal statement EDP said WLDC needs to reconsider whether the effects of the proposal “significantly and demonstrably” outweigh the benefits.

EDP says its technical assessments have found the turbine would not harm the Caistor Conservation 
Area.

The appeal says the turbine would have only a “slight to moderate” effect on landscape character within 10km of the site and the visual effects of the proposed development would not be significant.

EDP accepts the turbine would be visible from several properties in Moor Lane and on the approach to 
others.

But it says noise impacts and shadow flicker are within acceptable limits.

EDP does not accept the proposal would damage highways saying: “The scheme will not result in any unacceptable impacts on the public highway during the construction/decommissioning or operational phases.”

In a concluding statement in its appeal, EDP said WLDC’s reasons for refusal cannot be supported.

It said: “The proposal will not result in a significant effect on the setting of the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB, nor will it result in harm to the significance of the heritage assets in the vicinity of the site.”

The appeal will be determined by the Planning Inspectorate.

This will happen after a site visit to Moor Lane has taken place.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/05/18/fury-over-wind-turbine-appeal/