Wind turbine bid sparks concerns

Buy photos » A mock up of the view of the turbine from Monarchs Way. (s)

ALLOWING a wind turbine almost twice the size of a double decker bus to be built in Tardebigge will open the floodgates residents have warned.

Plans to install the 25 metres turbine - which rises to 34.2 metres at the tip of its tallest blade - on Thriftwood Farm, on

Holyoakes Lane were approved by Bromsgrove District Council's planning committee last week.

According to the applicant the move will cut fuel bills for his tractor and crop drier, which currently costs £6,700 a month, and guzzles around 10,000 litres of diesel.

Any surplus energy produced from the new turbine will be sold back to the National Grid helping the whole of Bromsgrove to meet its targets for greenhouse gas emissions.

Ten Tardebigge residents objected to the proposal, concerned about the negative visual and noise impact on the landscape, amenity and nearby heritage sites such as the Grade II listed Hewell Grange gardens.

The Ramblers Association also warned the turbine will detract from the historic value of the 600 mile Monarch's Way footpath which commemorates the route Charles II used to escape to France during the Battle of Worcester.

Coun John Tidmarsh, who voted against the plan, said: "I am not satisfied the alternative of solar panels which wouldn't have any impact at all has been investigated enough."

But Coun Rod Leight dismissed claims allowing the turbine would open the floodgates.

"Every single application for a turbine will have to go through this procedure. This single turbine will have a massive impact on carbon emissions."

Regional news »