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Home > > Wind turbine news > > Carsington turbines given green light by judge Carsington turbines given green light by judge
Proposals to erect the 102m-high turbines at Carsington Pastures, near Carsington Water, were rejected by Derbyshire Dales District Council two years ago. But last September a planning inspector, appointed by the Secretary of State, gave his approval following an appeal by the developer, Carsington Wind Energy Ltd. The council, along with the Peak District National Park Authority, appealed against the decision on the grounds that the developer failed to consider alternative sites nearby. But at the High Court yesterday Lord Justice Carnwath gave his backing to the turbine plans.  He said he could find no error of law in a planning inspector's decision to allow the scheme to go ahead and that the proposed energy output from the proposed wind farm had to be given "significant weight". The leader of Derbyshire Dales District Council, Councillor Lewis Rose, said: "I am very disappointed. "The district council has never questioned the desirability or need to promote renewable energy sources, however, there is a clear need to undertake a balanced assessment of such proposals. "Unless developers are required to consider alternative sites which may have less impact, such a balanced judgement cannot be reached." Councillor Hilda Gaddum, chairwoman of the Peak District National Park Authority's planning committee, said: "We made this joint appeal because it is our duty to fight threats to the national park landscape. "We are disappointed as we feel it is important that alternative sites are always considered before making a decision to put a wind farm 1.5 miles from a park boundary. "We need to spend time reading the judgement in detail to fully understand the implications for the future." The appeal was triggered by a report by planning inspector Robin Brooks in which he said the harm caused by the turbines would be limited, and was outweighed by the national need for renewable energy. He said the turbines could even be seen as appropriate to "an elemental, windswept landscape". Anthony Crean QC, appearing on behalf of the park and council during the previous appeal hearing, said Mr Brooks had made a fundamental error by saying it was not necessary for him to consider whether the need for renewable energy could be met on some alternative site where less harm would be caused. Lord Justice Carnwath dismissed the challenge. Carsington Parish Council chairman Neil Edmiston said local people were disappointed with the decision but felt they had fought the plans as hard as they could. He said: "We've never been against wind energy, our argument has always been to do with the unsuitability of the site." The judge ordered the council and park authority pay £10,320 legal Related Questions: |
