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Go-ahead signalled for turbine project on school playing fields
EDUCATION chiefs are likely to be given permission to build a 60ft-high wind turbine on the site of a brand new school later this week – despite the fact that it breaks all green belt planning rules.
Canklow Woods Primary School in Rotherham is currently being rebuilt and senior schools officers have applied for permission for the turbine, which would be sited on the playing field.
According to drawings submitted to Rotherham Council planning department, a 50ft (15-metre) mast would be required for the turbine, which would measure 60ft to the tip of its rotating blades.
An earlier application was opposed by Sport England, which aims to protect playing fields, but the new project has addressed those concerns, according to a report by council planning officers.
The report says: "Canklow Woods School is located on Wood Lane to the east of Centenary Way, which is a busy dual carriageway between Brinsworth and the town centre.
"At present a new school building is being constructed while classes continue within the original school before it is demolished. The wind turbine is proposed to be positioned at the north-east corner of the playing field.
"The area is surrounded by woodland to the immediate north, south and east, with residential properties to the north-west. There is a large industrial estate to the west.
"The nearest residential properties are located 140m away (460ft) on Wood View Place to the north in a residential estate.
"The mast and its siting are in exactly the same position as the previous application after information was provided to Sport England explaining that the position is the optimum location for performance."
According to the application, the mast will be made of galvanised steel, while the turbine will be white.
The application says: "The aim of the installation is to provide green energy for the school, to act as an educational tool for the pupils and to raise public awareness of renewable energy in the local area.
"The proposed site for the turbine has been chosen to both maximise the performance and to minimise the visual impact. The visual impact will also be lessened by the trees to the north and east of the site."
Planners say that despite advertising the turbine plans, no objections have been received from local residents, but they admit that the scheme would breach the council's green belt rules.
The council's guidance, or unitary development plan, says development will not be permitted in green belt areas "except in very special circumstances" and planning councillors will have to decide if those circumstances exist.
According to a report by the authority's planning officers, the turbine is likely to be acceptable, despite planning rules, because the "need to find sources of renewable energy constitutes a very special circumstance".
Officers add: "It is considered that the installation of a single wind turbine at 15 metres high will have no impact on the openness of the area as a whole and will be sufficiently far enough away from residential properties not to be contentious.
"In addition, giving the size, siting, and tree-screening to the north and east, it is unlikely that the turbine will limit the openness of the area or impact on view of occupiers of nearby properties."
A decision will be made at a meeting of Rotherham Council's planning board, which takes place at 9am in the Town Hall, Moorgate Street, this Thursday.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
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Temperature: -2 C to 0 C
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Wind direction: South
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