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Planners at two councils urging refusal of Peak wind farm plan
PLANNING officers at two district councils have recommended that a controversial application for a wind farm on the edge of the Peak District should not be given the go-ahead.
Already, almost 1,500 individuals and numerous organisations have submitted representations to North East Derbyshire and Derbyshire Dales district councils regarding the application for five 126m-tall wind turbines on Matlock Moor.
And now planning officials on both authorities have advised councillors to back the objectors and recommend that the scheme should be refused.
Originally the final decision on the plans was set to be made by members of both district councils but, after they took too long to come to a decision, developer Derbyshire Wind Energy – a subsidiary company of West Coast Energy (WCE) – appealed on the ground of "non-determination".
The application will now be decided by an inspector at a public inquiry in February next year.
Planners at North East Derbyshire district council, which is set to discuss the plans at a meeting tonight, said the 16m wind farm would have a "damaging impact on the local and wider landscape".
They added: "The locality is a desirable living environment, supports significant visitor accommodation facilities, and is well used for recreation by visitors and the local population alike.
"The proposed turbines, lying in close proximity to both permanent dwellings and holiday homes, would harm the amenity of their occupants.
"These impacts on amenity are likely to reduce the attractiveness of the locality to visitors and people involved in recreation, thereby reducing the important contribution tourism and recreation make to the local economy."
In the report set to go before tomorrow's meeting, planners also point out that while most of the 93 letters of objection have been individually written by local residents, a huge 494 of the 694 letters of support have been submitted on standard letter templates.
The report adds: "Comments have been received which allege that these letters have been handed out by support groups with a brief discussion about climate change issues and little explanation of the implications of the proposed wind farm."
Other objections have come from organisations including English Heritage, the Peak District National Park Authority, Friends of the Peak District, Derbyshire County Council, Derbyshire Ornithological Society, the RSPB, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, Natural England and the Ramblers' Association.
Planners at Derbyshire Dales District Council, which was set to present a report to councillors last night, said that the wind farm would "be a visually intrusive and pervasive addition to the countryside in a complex and sensitive landscape."
They added: "Moreover, the turbines will be readily visible in close views from and in panoramic views across the adjoining Peak District National Park such that its landscape character, setting and special qualities would be significantly diminished."
Derbyshire Wind Energy says that, should the scheme get the go-ahead, the wind farm would offer the potential to supply the annual needs of about 7,000 homes, or 16,750 people.
The scheme, they say, would also support local companies who would be able to bid for around 3m of construction contracts.
Matthew Hayes, from Derbyshire Wind Energy, said: "By changing the way we generate and consume our electricity we can make a significant difference to the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, helping to prevent climate change.
"Matlock Moor Wind Farm can play a valuable role in this process."
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
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Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
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