July 15, 2015
England

Stafford wind turbine appeal dismissed

Staffordshire Newsletter | July 14, 2015 | www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk

A planning inspector has backed Stafford Borough Council’s decision to reject controversial plans to build a 242-feet-high wind turbine near two beauty spots.

Caddick Renewables Ltd appealed when the borough authority refused their application for land south of Far Coley Farm, in Coley Lane, Little Haywood, in January last year.

Some 176 residents opposed the plans along with Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy, several parish councils, The Ramblers, English Heritage and Cannock Chase Area of Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership.

The company said the turbine would produce enough electricity to power nearly 400 homes but the plans were rejected unanimously because they would be detrimental to residential and visual amenity and damaging to the character and appearance of the rural landscape.

Inspector Philip Major visited the site twice and said the turbine would impact on the character of its immediate locality.

“A structure of the size proposed would inevitably be highly noticeable. In close proximity it would detract from the pastoral ambience and introduce a tall moving man made structure which would be in conflict with the existing character.”

He added: “I have no doubt that many of the people using the recreational facilities of Cannock Chase do so to take advantage of these views. Therefore, despite the distance to the appeal site, I consider that the turbine would have a disproportionate adverse impact on these viewers’ enjoyment of the experience of Cannock Chase.”

The appeal was dismissed.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/07/15/stafford-wind-turbine-appeal-dismissed/