11:00am Monday 15th February 2010
By Laura Kitching
FOUR giant wind turbines more than 400ft high could be sited in Dorset.
The wind farm will be built at East Stoke, between Wool and Wareham, if an amended planning application is given the go ahead by councillors.
Purbeck District Council has now registered a planning application for a four-turbine scheme at Masters Quarry from renewable energy company Infinergy.
The revised scheme was submitted last November but has only just been registered and backdated because of ‘concerns about the consistency of the information’ submitted, according to the council.
Four 410ft-tall wind turbines are proposed for the site instead of the six that were originally planned, following consultation with statutory and non-statutory consultees.
Herb Lindlahr, project director at Infinergy, said: “We have continued to consult with statutory consultees and the wider public since the initial planning application was submitted.
“We have taken on board comments from all consultees and have put the revised scheme forward to Purbeck District Council.
“We are looking forward to a decision later this year.”
He added: “Despite the reduction in the number of turbines the project still gives us the opportunity to provide a renewable energy source for Dorset and make a valuable contribution to its renewable energy targets.
“This wind farm gives Purbeck the opportunity to do its bit.”
Masters Quarry is cited by the company as ideal to develop a wind farm as it falls outside the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, has a viable wind resource and has a viable electricity connection so no extra pylons are needed.
Another reason given is that it is a brownfield site which is able to supply much of the construction material.
But East Stoke resident David Littlewood, 60, a member of the Dorset Against Rural Turbines (DART), said he has been ‘fighting’ the scheme for the past two years.
He said: “We’re very annoyed because the landowner Will Bond submitted the planning application in November but it has only just been registered so we’ve only got two weeks to have our say.
“We’ve heard that a decision will be made in the second week of March.
“There’s already a massive aerial at the site which is supposed to mirror the height of the turbines – 410ft – that’s almost the height of the 404ft Salisbury Cathedral spire.”
Another resident, Barbara Rose, is opposed because the turbines are ‘unsightly and would be a distraction when for drivers along Puddletown Road.’ She added: “I think they’re too near houses and four won’t produce enough energy to make it worthwhile having them.”
The application is available for public viewing at Purbeck District Council, Worgret Road, Wareham or online at www.purbeck.gov.uk/planning.aspx
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