September 24, 2015
England

Delight as wind farm plans are blocked after review

Peterborough Telegraph | 24 September 2015 | www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk

Residents have reacted with delight to news that plans for a large wind farm in Thorney have been scrapped.

Planning permission for the 4 turbine farm at French Drove was agreed by Peterborough City Council in February last year.

However, before permission could be officially granted, a review by Greg Clark, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, was carried out, and now the decision has been overturned.

Eye and Thorney councillor David Sanders said the decision was a victory for the majority of residents in the village- but REG Windpower, the firm behind the plans, called the u-turn ‘spectacularly illogical.’

Cllr Sanders said: “I have been opposed from the start of this process. Not everyone in Thorney has been opposed, but the majority have been.
“We were opposed for many reasons. The plans were for the wrong place.”

Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson said: “Naturally, I’m delighted for my constituents. This was a great result for Thorney residents and showed that a strong community campaign against an unsuitable and obtrusive development, could win the day.

“My decision to press the Secretary of State to “Call In” the plans was a long shot but we had right on our side and the decision is absolutely the correct one.”

However, a spokesman for REG said: “Blocking this project is a spectacularly illogical decision. Not only was the project recommended for approval, it was given the green light by Peterborough City Council’s planning committee and this view was upheld by the planning inspector.”


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/09/24/delight-as-wind-farm-plans-are-blocked-after-review/