September 6, 2016
England

Cheshire East turns down wind turbine proposal near Nantwich

By Belinda Ryan | Crewe Chronicle | 5 Sep 2016 | www.crewechronicle.co.uk

Cheshire East has refused permission for a 49m ‘eyesore’ turbine at a farm near Nantwich amid claims of the health impact it could have on nearby residents.

Robert Latham applied to Cheshire East Council to install the turbine at Ridley Bank Farm, off the Wrexham Road at Ridley.

More than 110 people and three parish councils wrote to the council to object to the application, which had already been deferred twice.

And on Wednesday members of the southern planning committee refused the scheme on the grounds insufficient information has been submitted to demonstrate that the benefits would outweigh the harm.

The committee heard from Bulkeley and Ridley parish councillor Michael Dixon that the environmental health officer’s calculation regarding the noise assessment ‘is completely wrong’ and the turbine would be louder than the report claimed.

“The turbine would have an adverse impact on residential amenity and it is the committee’s responsibility to safeguard the peaceful enjoyment of local residents in their homes,” said Cllr Dixon, adding: “The turbine would be an eyesore, on top of the hill, ruining the visual aspect for thousands of persons over the next 25 years, all for one man’s personal benefit.”

Objector Mr Boycey said papers issued by local government organisations and medical experts had reported the detrimental health impacts of turbines on nearby residents including stress disorder type diseases, neurological, tinnitus, earache, nausea, headache and mood disorder.

“Please don’t ignore the writing on the wall. This is the tobacco issue, it is the asbestos issue,” he said.

Council officer Margaret Hopley said if the turbine exceeded the permitted 35dbs then enforcement action would be taken.

But councillors were not convinced.

Cllr Steve Edgar said: “Once the application’s been approved and it’s proved to be too noisy, how are you going to stop the noise?”

He also asked how the turbine was going to connect to the national grid.

“It’s damned ugly, in the wrong place and I am minded to refuse. Full stop,” he said.

Cllr Janet Clowes (Con) said: “I am very dubious about the ability to enforce, once it’s built, issues around noise and consequently I would support Cllr Edgar’s proposal to refuse.”

Cllr Bernice Walmsley (Ind) said: “We’ve heard plenty about the dis-benefits, I can’t for the life of me find a benefit, other than for one farmer who would make money out of it.”

Six councillors voted to refuse the application and two abstained.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/09/06/cheshire-east-turns-down-wind-turbine-proposal-near-nantwich/