Wind energy news from the province: Turbine bid turned down

Plans to build a new wind turbine in St Newlyn East have been rejected by Carrick district council. The council refused planning permission for a new wind turbine at Pophams Farm, UK. Chairman of planning at Carrick council Maggy Vale said: "It was rejected by the Chairman and vice Chairman after a recommendation from the planning officer, which was to refuse it." Many of the people in the village who signed the petition are pleased that the council reinforced the decision of the parish council. Chairman of St Newly parish council John Harris said: "It’s a very sensitive area around the church and the feeling of the village was that it wasn’t right for the area."

The council rejected the plan on three grounds. The first reason was height of the wind turbine, which is at a similar level to the church, and according to the council would have a detrimental effect on a listed building in a conservation area. The second reason the council gave was because the applicant, Dr Nick Warren, failed to provide enough evidence that there would not be excessive noise from the turbine. Finally they said the fact that there are protected ash trees in the vicinity of the farm and they might be damaged when the turbine was installed. Maggy Vale said: "I felt quiet pleased that it was rejected. My personnel feeling is that you do need to consult with the public because other wise you could have them popping up everywhere. "I live near one and I think there quite a good idea but if they are going to be so near people you need smaller turbines."

However, Dr Warren has said that he plans to take legal advice on the possibility of making an appeal. "I mean I am obviously disappointed because they have not helped me in any way. "They are supposed to help and support alternative energy projects," said Dr Warren. He believes that the decision was flawed because the council’s planning department failed to understand a piece of new legislation, PPS22, which was introduced by the government to encourage renewable energy projects. "I believe that the district council has actually failed to understand the legislation because they have used PPS 22 as a means of refusal, I think it is perverse to use enabling legislation as a grounds for refusal." Dr Warren alleges the council may have been swayed by the vocal opposition to the plan from the village and has not given him a fair hearing. "I understand the pressure they were under with the number to people that objected but unless they can say the impact is significant then there no real grounds for rejecting it." According to Dr Warren the council have been unjustified in rejecting him for not supplying enough information on the noise of his wind turbine because he supplied them with all the technical specifications from the manufactures.

"I’m only private individual, I can not provide them with any other data. They did not give me a chance." He said the third reason is not relevant because he is negotiating the rights to bring it through another field that would not affect the trees. Planning Officer Ian Void responded to his accusation by saying: "The law is not mutually exclusive and there are many different sub sections. It can be used to promote one idea but it can also be used for another." According to Dr Warren he will ask the council to review their decision and give him a fair hearing or he will take legal action.