Planners think twice about wind turbines

PLANNING chiefs at Warrington are to visit the proposed sites of three wind turbines on farmland.
Members of the borough council’s planning committee deferred decisions on three separate applications by farmers who want to erect turbines on their land to cut energy costs.
The proposals relate to sites at Causeway Bridges Farm, Alder Lane, Burtonwood – which has already been deferred once following objections from Liverpool John Lennon Airport – Lowes Farm, Kenyon Lane, Kenyon and Walnut Tree Farm, Northwich Road, Stretton.
Mark Fairclough is seeking permission for a 50m high turbine – 77m high including the blades – at Causeway Bridges Farm.
The site is alongside the M62 and objections have come from Burtonwood Parish Council and 10 nearby residents.
But there are also objections from the Joint Radio Company – which assesses potential for interference to radio systems operated by energy companies – and Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which is concerned that the turbine could impact on the airport radar system.
They also claim the turbine would be in an air traffic radar vectoring area and would pose a safety risk to aircraft and affect operations at the airport.
This application was adjourned last month for negotiations between the airport and the applicant.
Philip Sharpe is seeking permission for a 20.35m high turbine – including the blades – at Lowes Farm, Kenyon. He has had objections from three neighbours concerned about the visual impact, noise, proximity to a public footpath, and harm to wildlife.
Tim Blackshaw wants to build a 25m turbine at Walnut Tree Farm, Stretton.
Thirty objections have been received from neighbours, plus objections from Stretton and Whitley parish councils.
Planning officers say all three turbines would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt but that the benefits of producing energy from renewable sources amount to special circumstances which would outweigh any harm to the openness of the Green Belt.
But the committee felt they should inspect the Burtonwood site, following the airport’s objection and that it would be better to inspect all three sites.