Second turbine refused

An application for a second wind turbine at Carlton-on-Trent was turned down by Newark and Sherwood District Council planning committee.

Mrs Christine Rose, the district councillor for the area, said she agreed with the parish council, which opposed the application by Mr George Vere-Laurie. He wants to put a 77metre turbine in a field off Ossington Road, about 1km from an existing one.

Mrs Rose said the district council needed to develop a vigorous policy over wind turbines to stop adhoc development.

She said South Kesteven District Council had already drawn up guidelines over the issue and said they should compile a supplementary planning document of their own.

“We need to do it now and control where wind turbines should go,” she said.

The leader of the council, Mr Roger Blaney, agreed that such a document was desirable and necessary.

He said he was undecided over the application. He said the turbine would be erected in a rural area but the village of Staythorpe was also a rural area and a power station had been built there.

He said there was concern the application could be followed by another application for a third turbine, then a fourth and a fifth, but said that each application had to be considered on its merit.

Mr John Peck thought they should accept the application.

He did not feel that the erection of a second turbine would have too much impact.

Mr John Bradbury said he could see five huge wind turbines from his home.

He said: “They are like a wart on your face, eventually you don’t really notice them, but I am glad when spring comes around and there are leaves on the trees so you can’t see them so much.”

Mr Geoff Merry supported the application and said it was vital they sought sources of alternative energy such as wind turbines.

Mr Paul Handley said he had recently returned from Spain where there were developments of wind turbines in one place. He said that rather than pepper wind turbines around Nottinghamshire in a piecemeal fashion, which could be judged adversely in the future, he felt they should have a plan.

“If locals don’t want them then we should take their views into account,” he said.

Director of growth Mr Colin Walker recommended approval.

He said there were no significant environmental, social or economic impacts.

There were 16 letters of objection, and objections from the Trent Turbine Opposition Group. There was one letter of support, which said they felt the turbine would be proud, majestic and would enhance the rural and scenic environment.