April 18, 2016
England

Bid to build wind turbine in Upper Broughton shot down

By Tom Norton | April 18, 2016 | Nottingham Post | www.nottinghampost.com

Campaigners are celebrating after efforts by the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham to build a wind turbine in the Nottinghamshire countryside were quashed by a government official.

Residents in Upper Broughton have been fighting against plans for the 40m turbine in nearby fields for the past two years.

The Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham wanted to build it on land off Melton Road in Upper Broughton, on the Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire border.

An application to Rushcliffe Borough Council to build the turbine was rejected in 2014.

But the applicant, Nigel Spraggins from the Diocese, appealed the decision and the application was sent to the Planning Inspectorate for reconsideration.

Now, following a visit in November, the government official has dismissed the appeal.

A spokesman for Voices Against Turbines, which has protested against the plans, insisted it wasn’t a campaign against environmental development.

He said: “Voices Against Turbines, who led this campaign, said they would like to thank all the hundreds of people who gave their support and time.

“They understood the need for the Diocese of Southwell wanting to maximise on their investments and to meet their 2050 eco-targets, but felt in this instance they had been misguided.

“They had perhaps not realised the depth of feeling locally regarding the preservation of the beauty of the Vale.”

The planning inspectorate upheld the decision made by Rushcliffe Borough Council in 2014 based on landscape and impact, volume of objections and support from local representatives.

The group had received wide support from nearby residents and Rushcliffe MP Ken Clarke.

The report by the planning inspectorate noted, among other concerns, that there was already a spread of turbines in the nearby landscape including Old Dalby Wind Farm.

The report stated: “There would also be adverse affects upon those using footpaths in the vicinity of the site.

“Those adverse impacts would be severely exacerbated where seen in sequence with the wind farm near Old Dalby.

“Taken together, these visual impacts result in a scheme which would have an unacceptable effect on the character and appearance of the surrounding area.”

The Post has tried to contact Mr Spraggins representative at JHWalter LLP for comment on the decision.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/04/18/bid-to-build-wind-turbine-in-upper-broughton-shot-down/