Wind turbine plan approved despite calls to turn it down (From Keighley News)
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Wind turbine plan approved despite calls to turn it down
8:00am Friday 28th December 2012 in Keighley
Plans to site a single 34-metre-high wind turbine in Low Bradley have been approved – despite claims the area is getting a wind farm by stealth.
Ward councillor Mark Wheeler (Lib Dem) urged Craven District Council’s planning committee to turn down the application by Peter Thornton for Smoulden Farm in Jacksons Lane.
He said the impact on the landscape would outweigh the contribution to renewable energy targets and called for an assessment to be carried out by the council of the cumulative impact of other turbines in the area.
“I have consistently questioned the council’s lack of a coherent policy considering the cumulative effects of wind turbine development in any particular area,” he told the committee in written comments.
“There are a number of approved turbines just over the border in Silsden.”
But Coun Ken Hart (Ind) said although he did not like turbines, he thought the site was one of best, and Coun Alan Sutcliffe (Con) added his support on the grounds there was previous approval on the land and because the nearest residential property was 250 metres away.
