Company cut the size of proposed wind turbine 

The size of a giant wind turbine proposed for Uttoxeter has been reduced after the company behind it listened to the concerns of residents.

Aggregate Industries and AGRenewables said they have responded to feedback from the community regarding plans to erect an 87m wind turbine near Uttoxeter Quarry, in Spath, by reducing the height to 78m.

The pre-application consultation period for the proposal closed last week and the company has reacted to concerns over the potential visual impact of the turbine by reducing the maximum tip height.

To give residents what the company say is an accurate idea of what it would look like if constructed, a series of photomontages from different viewpoints in the local landscape have been provided.

Tim Claxton, Aggregates’ senior estates surveyor at Uttoxeter, said: “The decision to adapt our plans following the feedback we received during the consultation period was taken because we were keen to address the concerns of the local community.

“We hope the photomontages will assist with providing a clearer idea of what the turbine will look like, as they are accurate scale images which give a sense of the actual size of the turbine in the local landscape.” Another issue addressed was residents’ fears over plans for the quarry restoration and for the land to be returned for leisure facilities.

In response to this, Mr Claxton said: “We would like to reassure residents that the planned restoration of the quarry to leisure use is still going ahead as planned and remains unaffected by the proposed turbine.

“Our efforts to aid the development of sports pitches are also on-going and we are working to provide Sport England with all of the information it requires so as to demonstrate that the pitch layout designs are both safe and up to the highest design standards.” The company also states the results of the noise monitoring carried out for the proposal confirmed the turbine would be within the limits of nationally recognised noise guidelines.

Mr Claxton added: “The noise monitoring we undertook at Uttoxeter shows that predicted noise levels from the proposed turbine will be within accepted national standards, meaning that it will not lead to any significant loss in amenity for any of its closest residents.” In response to confusion about how the generated energy will be used, Mr Claxton clarified: “The low carbon electricity generated by the proposed turbine will be used on site at Uttoxeter Quarry for its remaining operational life.

“All low carbon electricity exported to the national grid during the life of the turbine will be bought back by Aggregate Industries to be used at our other sites across the UK, offsetting the carbon emissions of the company’s UK operations.” The company added the electricity generated by the proposed turbine ‘will help the UK meet its legally binding 2020 targets to generate 15 per cent of its energy from renewables and to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 34 per cent from 1990 levels’.

Aggregate Industries and AGRenewables are intending to submit a planning application to Staffordshire County Council towards the end of June.

The photomontage is available to view at www.aggregatewinduttoxeter.co.uk