December 15, 2015
England

Concerns raised over impact Lincolnshire wind farm will have on landscape

Lincolnshire Echo | December 14, 2015 | www.lincolnshireecho.co.uk

Fresh concerns have been raised for a planning application which could see ten wind turbines taller than Big Ben tower over the Fulbeck countryside.

Senior councillor Marianne Overton has said the turbines, which are set to be over 360ft on the former RAF Fulbeck airfield, are too big for the rural landscape.

Mrs Overton said: “I have been having meetings with several groups to hear what they have to say.

“There is another renewable energy that we would like – roof tiles that look like roof tiles which generate electricity, there are pavements that make electricity when you walk on them, these are some of the other technologies that we would like to see.

“We are in favour of renewable energy but one that does not damage the countryside.”

Mrs Overton said there were many people who were against the application, which had already received 422 objections.

She added: “We have been running posters to encourage people to respond to the application.

“It will change the character of the rural farming landscape if it goes ahead. In the past a windmill was fine as the size and scale matched the need of one per farm.

“It is important to make sure local voices are properly heard and have a proper say.”

The towers are set to be working for 25 years if planning permission is granted to Energiekontor UK Ltd by South Kesteven District Council.

The site is just one-and-a-half miles away from the Temple Hill wind farm proposed by RWE Innogy – which was rejected by planners in March 2015.

Chair of Marsh Windfarm Action Group, Melvin Grosvenor, said if the application goes ahead the turbines will be seen for miles.

He said: “The local site is old but the impacts will be significant, the higher ground that runs for a considerable distance will be overlooking that site.

“The worry is that they will be viewed from the southern side of Lincoln cathedral, we have managed to keep them away from the western views.

“Once the wind turbines are in it doesn’t seem a problem for companies to add a few more.”

Chair of Fulbeck Parish Council, Ann Sampson, said she was against the application and the parish council also voted against it.

She said: “There have been several letters of complaint written against it from the villages outside as well as in Fulbeck.

“If the planning application goes ahead it will also mean more construction traffic for us too.”

The application is set to be reviewed by South Kesteven District Council next year.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/12/15/concerns-raised-over-impact-lincolnshire-wind-farm-will-have-on-landscape/