Controversial plans for a wind turbine in a north Shropshire back garden have been put forward again just five months after being thrown out by planners.
The 15-metre high turbine would be built in the garden behind The Fields, Rowe Lane, Welshampton, to generate electricity for the property. Villagers have reacted angrily to the plans and members of Welshampton and Lyneal Parish Council have written a letter of objection to Shropshire Council.
Parish councillors discussed the issue on July 16 and have claimed the turbine would be a ‘non-standard construction’. They say no justification has been given for the amount of noise the turbine would generate.
Carole Warner, parish clerk for Welshampton and Lyneal Parish Council, said: “We have had a number of concerned residents contact us regarding the wind turbine, in particular the amount of noise it would create. We don’t reject all wind turbine applications in the area. In this case, we feel we have not been given enough information about it to give it the thumbs up.”
The original application was refused in February, then resubmitted and considered by Shropshire Council’s interim regulatory committee in April. However, members of the committee expressed concerns about trees at the proposed site and requested additional information.
Further consultation has since taken place and the application will be considered by the north’s area regulatory committee on August 18.
Speaking about the original application, Chris Symes, chairman of the parish council, said councillors had lodged an objection because they were concerned such a tall device would be seen for some distance, and cause an eyesore for neighbours.
He said the council was also concerned about noise coming from the turbine, the possible felling of trees to accommodate the mast and the economic viability of the project, as wind speed may not be high enough in the area.
In a letter to Karen Townend, principal planning officer, Richard Evans speaking on behalf of the applicant said: “The applicant accepts this deficiency in the previous application and wishes to resubmit the application for the erection of a wind turbine.
“It is proposed to mount the turbine on a single pole on top of a lattice tower, as proposed in the previous application, with an overall hub height of 15m in order to maximise the potential of the site.
“I trust the above will satisfactorily address the only reason given for refusing the previous application.”
Gareth Proffitt, communications officer for Shropshire Council, said anyone wishing to comment on the plans has until August 17 to write to Karen Townend, Principal Planning Officer, Shropshire Council, Edinburgh House, Wem.