Published: 25/07/2007 00:00 -
Updated: 10/12/2009 11:15
THE first ever attempt to construct a wind farm in Derbyshire has been turned down.
The site at Carsington Pastures, Manystones Lane, Carsington, was rejected at a special meeting on Tuesday last week by the southern area planning committee of Derbyshire Dales Council.
Conservative Council Leader and ward member Lewis Rose proposed the application of Wind Energy Limited be refused and this was seconded by Liberal Democrat Leader David Fearn and agreed unanimously.
Those opposed to the plan stressed they were not against wind farms, renewable energy and attempts to reduce the carbon footprint, but this was not the right site.
The applicant company - criticised for its lack of pre-application public consultation and refusal to hold a public meeting - has yet to decide if will appeal against the decision.
WEL's Agent, Mr Neil Exton, when asked about appealing, told the News Telegraph: "It is something that will be considered. I imagine we will be appealing but it is not definite."
Almost 150 individuals and at least seven specialist interest groups wrote opposing the application which was to erect four wind turbine generators, substation, access tracks and ancillary equipment at the 16.4 hectare site of open, rough grazing land.
Around 25 letters of support were received.
The special planning meeting came at the end of a long and tiring day for councillors and officers, who had journeyed to south Yorkshire to view a wind farm at Penistone followed by a detailed inspection of the application site and taking in views from Carsington water and Carsington, Hopton and Brassington.
And even before they could put their own thoughts into words, they had to sit and listen to the views of others - there were 12 speakers against the application and one in favour.
Planning officer Jon Bradbury explained the visit to the south Yorkshire wind farm had been to assess the inpact on the landscape, though it had been stressed to members they should not be influenced by that as each application had to be considered on its merits.
Of those opposed to the application Mr P Gibson, Chairman of Carsington Bird Club, was the first to his feet, speaking for their 300 members.
He believed the applicants' bird survey had been superficial, concentrating on the impact on breeding birds while the most important aspect of Carsington Water was its attraction to migrating and wintering birds which had not been included.
Two or three times a year they had 2,000 geese flying over in the direction of the wind farm site and some months ago also flying in that direction had been the biggest flock of starlings ever seen in the East Midlands, believed to number around 250,000.
Bill Metcalfe, a local resident, claimed this was a false application in that the land was still under the Duchy of Lancaster and would possibly break four Acts of Parliament: the Derbyshire Mining Customs Act of 1852; the Open Spaces Act 1906; the Crown Lands Act 1906 and the Hazardous Waste and Environment Act 2005.
He wanted to see the application refused so it could go on appeal to the Secretary of State.
Coun Neil Edmiston, Chairman of Carsington and Hopton Parish Council, said they supported the concept of wind energy but were unable to support this insensitive application on what was not a favoured site of 19 considered by Derbyshire County Council. In fact it was one of the six least favoured.
Carsington and Hopton Parish Council commissioned an acoustic consultancy MRCL to assess WCE's noise assessment and Coun Edmiston said they had found it flawed and that through the development government noise guidelines would be exceeded.
He touched too on an inaccurate description of the locality - that it was despoiled through mining - and spoke too of the ancient mining activity of the area since Roman times, mentioning various archaeological finds.
Mel Pickering, a supporter of green energy, felt sensitivity needed to be applied. He spoke too of the Romano British history of Carsington Pastures an the unique Time Team survey which had been made.
Said Mr Pickering: "This would be a very thin end of the wedge in Derbyshire Dales and the Peak Park and it would be an irony and a tragedy if, in order to save the global environment, we spoilt the local one."
Denise Corfield also spoke of the beautiful and historic Carsington Pasture.The visual impact of a wind farm would destroy a stunning panorama.
Said Mrs Corfield: "Approving this application would set a precedent for the despoiling of other beauty spots in Derbyshire."
Mrs Helen McKenzie spoke of ecological matters including bat activity in local mine shafts which remained open and had not been capped, and of the fact that there were badgers some 500m from the site.
Steve Burton fully supported renewable energy, but was concerned about potential excessive noise since the nearest dwelling would be 650m from a turbine generator. He pointed out that various noise associated groups recommended the separation of wind farms from homes should be at least 1600m
Professor Don McKenzie spoke on something he thought had never yet been touched upon, the possibility of seismic noise through the bedrock. He explained that the geology of the site was complex with solid bedrock, overlying limestone and pockets of clay. Engineers would possibly want to lock the constructions into the solid limestone, the same limestone many house foundations would be locked into and there could be the seismic transmission of vibration to the houses.
"I would say there is a risk which should be investigated and cannot be once the turbines have been built because of the complexity. Once they have been built it is too late.
Craig Southway spoke of the efforts that been made by the highway authority to improve hazards on the B5035 which in the 18 months up to the application had see three fatalities. He feared a wind farm would be a hazardous distraction to road users and did not want to see the great work to improve road safety reduced.
Rebecca Cole-Morgan spoke of the archaeological heritage of Carsington Pastures. WCE had described it as "of regional significance" but Professor Andrew Chamberlain of Sheffield University disagreed. He had conducted research into the archaeological remains on Carsington Pastures and adjacent areas and found them of regional and national importance.
She spoke too of the Channel 4 Time Team programme which filmed excavations on Carsington Pastures in January 2003.
"Their findings were amazing. A Bronze Age barrow, a full cremation urn, evidence of Neolithic and Roman inhumations. It has obviously been an important place to inter the dead since ancient times."
Ruth Greaves spoke about tourism. "WCE has said that wind farms can be tourist attractions but we believe it will be harmful to our trade." She explained about surveys in Scotland and Wales which suggested a third of potential tourists would not visit an area because of a wind farm.
Wondering how this would translate to the Carsington area, she asked: "Would you choose to visit a locality dominated by these massive, industrial structures? No you would go elsewhere."
Trevor Hughes spoke on safety issues including blade failure, fire, and ice throw and pointed out that in addition to local residents some 800,000 people had visited Carsington Water in 2006.
He touched too on air safety issues including the safe operation of the Trent beacon, which amazingly had not been addressed given the number of flights into Manchester over Carsington Water.
Said Mr Hughes: "Laudable though the aims may be this is the wrong development in the wrong place."
THE Conservative Leader of Derbyshire Dales Council, Coun Lewis Rose, and Coun David Fearn, the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group of members, led the way in opposing the wind farm at Carsington Pastures.
Addressing the specially convened meeting of the southern area planning committee, Coun Rose said: "I think this has been a very difficult application for most of us. It is the first time we have had to deal with an application for a wind farm and we have heard from Mr Exton (the applicant's agent) that this is the only one for Derbyshire.
"It is clear there will come a time when a wind farm will have to occur in this county, in our part of the national park or elsewhere. But I do not think this site is the right site."
He paid tribute to what had been said by objectors and in coming up with well reasoned objections and their sensitivity and thoughtfulness had to be commended.
"I am proud of the efforts they have made and if the committee accepts the officer's recommendation they may have to do it all again."
He contrasted their efforts with those of the applicants who no doubt could have taken advice and indulged in pre-application consultations, but they would have none of it and the first the villages knew of the application was when it arrived out of the blue.
"It is a shame they would not have a public meeting. Public meetings can be constructive. We are not a rebellious area and do not slag people off at public meetings, but exchange information and it is a shame it did not happen. It shows the application was not as well thought as it might have been."
Coun Rose commended the council's officers on their written report and explained the "rigorous route march" they had made earlier in the day in their efforts to discover the truth.
"This is a serious matter and it has been taken as such and the officers' recommendations are spot on."
His proposal was seconded by Coun David Fearn who expressed disappointment that in the whole of Derbyshire there was no better site than this.
"I am appalled. There must be somewhere a wind farm could add to the landscape.
"We are going to give out the impression we are against wind farms per se and we are not.
"We must not change the local environment because of national environmental needs."
The site at Carsington Pastures, Manystones Lane, Carsington, was rejected at a special meeting on Tuesday last week by the southern area planning committee of Derbyshire Dales Council.
Conservative Council Leader and ward member Lewis Rose proposed the application of Wind Energy Limited be refused and this was seconded by Liberal Democrat Leader David Fearn and agreed unanimously.
Those opposed to the plan stressed they were not against wind farms, renewable energy and attempts to reduce the carbon footprint, but this was not the right site.
The applicant company - criticised for its lack of pre-application public consultation and refusal to hold a public meeting - has yet to decide if will appeal against the decision.
WEL's Agent, Mr Neil Exton, when asked about appealing, told the News Telegraph: "It is something that will be considered. I imagine we will be appealing but it is not definite."
Almost 150 individuals and at least seven specialist interest groups wrote opposing the application which was to erect four wind turbine generators, substation, access tracks and ancillary equipment at the 16.4 hectare site of open, rough grazing land.
Around 25 letters of support were received.
The special planning meeting came at the end of a long and tiring day for councillors and officers, who had journeyed to south Yorkshire to view a wind farm at Penistone followed by a detailed inspection of the application site and taking in views from Carsington water and Carsington, Hopton and Brassington.
And even before they could put their own thoughts into words, they had to sit and listen to the views of others - there were 12 speakers against the application and one in favour.
Planning officer Jon Bradbury explained the visit to the south Yorkshire wind farm had been to assess the inpact on the landscape, though it had been stressed to members they should not be influenced by that as each application had to be considered on its merits.
Of those opposed to the application Mr P Gibson, Chairman of Carsington Bird Club, was the first to his feet, speaking for their 300 members.
He believed the applicants' bird survey had been superficial, concentrating on the impact on breeding birds while the most important aspect of Carsington Water was its attraction to migrating and wintering birds which had not been included.
Two or three times a year they had 2,000 geese flying over in the direction of the wind farm site and some months ago also flying in that direction had been the biggest flock of starlings ever seen in the East Midlands, believed to number around 250,000.
Bill Metcalfe, a local resident, claimed this was a false application in that the land was still under the Duchy of Lancaster and would possibly break four Acts of Parliament: the Derbyshire Mining Customs Act of 1852; the Open Spaces Act 1906; the Crown Lands Act 1906 and the Hazardous Waste and Environment Act 2005.
He wanted to see the application refused so it could go on appeal to the Secretary of State.
Coun Neil Edmiston, Chairman of Carsington and Hopton Parish Council, said they supported the concept of wind energy but were unable to support this insensitive application on what was not a favoured site of 19 considered by Derbyshire County Council. In fact it was one of the six least favoured.
Carsington and Hopton Parish Council commissioned an acoustic consultancy MRCL to assess WCE's noise assessment and Coun Edmiston said they had found it flawed and that through the development government noise guidelines would be exceeded.
He touched too on an inaccurate description of the locality - that it was despoiled through mining - and spoke too of the ancient mining activity of the area since Roman times, mentioning various archaeological finds.
Mel Pickering, a supporter of green energy, felt sensitivity needed to be applied. He spoke too of the Romano British history of Carsington Pastures an the unique Time Team survey which had been made.
Said Mr Pickering: "This would be a very thin end of the wedge in Derbyshire Dales and the Peak Park and it would be an irony and a tragedy if, in order to save the global environment, we spoilt the local one."
Denise Corfield also spoke of the beautiful and historic Carsington Pasture.The visual impact of a wind farm would destroy a stunning panorama.
Said Mrs Corfield: "Approving this application would set a precedent for the despoiling of other beauty spots in Derbyshire."
Mrs Helen McKenzie spoke of ecological matters including bat activity in local mine shafts which remained open and had not been capped, and of the fact that there were badgers some 500m from the site.
Steve Burton fully supported renewable energy, but was concerned about potential excessive noise since the nearest dwelling would be 650m from a turbine generator. He pointed out that various noise associated groups recommended the separation of wind farms from homes should be at least 1600m
Professor Don McKenzie spoke on something he thought had never yet been touched upon, the possibility of seismic noise through the bedrock. He explained that the geology of the site was complex with solid bedrock, overlying limestone and pockets of clay. Engineers would possibly want to lock the constructions into the solid limestone, the same limestone many house foundations would be locked into and there could be the seismic transmission of vibration to the houses.
"I would say there is a risk which should be investigated and cannot be once the turbines have been built because of the complexity. Once they have been built it is too late.
Craig Southway spoke of the efforts that been made by the highway authority to improve hazards on the B5035 which in the 18 months up to the application had see three fatalities. He feared a wind farm would be a hazardous distraction to road users and did not want to see the great work to improve road safety reduced.
Rebecca Cole-Morgan spoke of the archaeological heritage of Carsington Pastures. WCE had described it as "of regional significance" but Professor Andrew Chamberlain of Sheffield University disagreed. He had conducted research into the archaeological remains on Carsington Pastures and adjacent areas and found them of regional and national importance.
She spoke too of the Channel 4 Time Team programme which filmed excavations on Carsington Pastures in January 2003.
"Their findings were amazing. A Bronze Age barrow, a full cremation urn, evidence of Neolithic and Roman inhumations. It has obviously been an important place to inter the dead since ancient times."
Ruth Greaves spoke about tourism. "WCE has said that wind farms can be tourist attractions but we believe it will be harmful to our trade." She explained about surveys in Scotland and Wales which suggested a third of potential tourists would not visit an area because of a wind farm.
Wondering how this would translate to the Carsington area, she asked: "Would you choose to visit a locality dominated by these massive, industrial structures? No you would go elsewhere."
Trevor Hughes spoke on safety issues including blade failure, fire, and ice throw and pointed out that in addition to local residents some 800,000 people had visited Carsington Water in 2006.
He touched too on air safety issues including the safe operation of the Trent beacon, which amazingly had not been addressed given the number of flights into Manchester over Carsington Water.
Said Mr Hughes: "Laudable though the aims may be this is the wrong development in the wrong place."
THE Conservative Leader of Derbyshire Dales Council, Coun Lewis Rose, and Coun David Fearn, the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group of members, led the way in opposing the wind farm at Carsington Pastures.
Addressing the specially convened meeting of the southern area planning committee, Coun Rose said: "I think this has been a very difficult application for most of us. It is the first time we have had to deal with an application for a wind farm and we have heard from Mr Exton (the applicant's agent) that this is the only one for Derbyshire.
"It is clear there will come a time when a wind farm will have to occur in this county, in our part of the national park or elsewhere. But I do not think this site is the right site."
He paid tribute to what had been said by objectors and in coming up with well reasoned objections and their sensitivity and thoughtfulness had to be commended.
"I am proud of the efforts they have made and if the committee accepts the officer's recommendation they may have to do it all again."
He contrasted their efforts with those of the applicants who no doubt could have taken advice and indulged in pre-application consultations, but they would have none of it and the first the villages knew of the application was when it arrived out of the blue.
"It is a shame they would not have a public meeting. Public meetings can be constructive. We are not a rebellious area and do not slag people off at public meetings, but exchange information and it is a shame it did not happen. It shows the application was not as well thought as it might have been."
Coun Rose commended the council's officers on their written report and explained the "rigorous route march" they had made earlier in the day in their efforts to discover the truth.
"This is a serious matter and it has been taken as such and the officers' recommendations are spot on."
His proposal was seconded by Coun David Fearn who expressed disappointment that in the whole of Derbyshire there was no better site than this.
"I am appalled. There must be somewhere a wind farm could add to the landscape.
"We are going to give out the impression we are against wind farms per se and we are not.
"We must not change the local environment because of national environmental needs."
