Farm turbine refused despite local support (From Western Telegraph)

Farm turbine refused despite local support

12:00pm Saturday 5th January 2013 in County News

An application for a 55kw wind turbine on land at Brawdy Farm was refused by national park planners, despite receiving more than 30 letters of support from members of the public.

The authority’s development management committee heard that the turbine, which would be 25m to its hub and 35m to the top of the blade, would be located on land on the northern edge of the national park boundary.

The plans were recommended for refusal as they failed to address the “serious concerns” raised in relation to their visual impact.

The application, which was backed by Brawdy Community Council, had received 37 letters of support citing reasons such as the use of renewable energy and the fact it would be positioned near an existing large grain drying and storage facility.

There were two letters of objection, one saying it was unacceptable in the national park, which is an area of beauty, the other saying the days of turbines are numbered.

The applicant, Peter Gwyther, said the turbine would be used to reduce the largest cost on his arable farm, the bill for oil and gas which costs him around £30,000 a year drying the grain and oil seeds he produces.

He said he wanted to make a contribution to the reduction in energy use and asked for the application to be granted “in the name of common sense”.

“This is far too high in completely the wrong position,”

said committee member David Ellis.

The application was refused by a vote of eight to one, with four abstentions.