February 4, 2016
England

Great Glen wind turbine: Government inspector rejects farmer’s green energy plan

By Tim Healy | Leicester Mercury | February 04, 2016 | www.leicestermercury.co.uk

A wind turbine which could have powered 409 rural homes has been rejected by a Government inspector.

A farmer’s plan to erect a 210ft mast on his land could have also seen £25,000 pumped into local projects.

But residents in nearby villages opposed the project and have welcomed the inspector’s decision.

Protests were organised in the summer of 2013 when David Holman said he wanted to erect the turbine in a field off London Road in Great Glen.

Harborough District Council refused the application in September 2014.

Mr Holman appealed but a new Government stance on wind turbines was published last year.

It delayed the appeal decision which was announced on Wednesday.

County councillor for the area Dr Kevin Feltham, who campaigned against the scheme, said: “The inspector has taken a long time to come to a decision.

“But it is to be welcomed.

“If allowed, it would have been a blight on the local landscape.

“It could have also posed a highway safety risk by possibly distracting drivers on the nearby A6.”

Government inspector D J Board said in his judgment: “the proposal would assist in meeting national renewable energy targets and contribute to tackling climate change and offset carbon emissions created by the farming business.”

But he added: “The turbine would be the only significant man-made feature within the immediate landscape.

“The proposal would have a major adverse effect on the local landscape and a moderate-minor adverse effect on public visual amenity.

“Weighing all of this in the balance, I find that the benefits and other issues identified would not outweigh the totality of the harm I have identified in terms of landscape and visual impact.”

Supporting his scheme Mr Holman had said: “As a committed environmentalist, I am a firm believer that those who are in a position to make a difference with regard to climate change must make every effort to do so.”

He said the turbine would provide enough electricity to power 409 homes a year covering the annual needs of all the properties within the villages of Burton Overy (129 houses) and Carlton Curlieu (fewer than 20 houses) along with a part of Great Glen (1,354 houses).

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/02/04/great-glen-wind-turbine-government-inspector-rejects-farmers-green-energy-plan/