| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Llandegley wind turbines to be built near ancient monuments
Credit: Wind turbines to be built near monuments | BBC News | 18 March 2019 | www.bbc.co.uk ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
After a long-running dispute over their impact on four ancient monuments, seven giant wind turbines are to be built.
The development at Llandegley was rejected by Powys council in 2017, with an appeal by Hendy Wind Farms rejected following a public inquiry.
However, energy secretary Lesley Griffiths decided to grant permission in November because of “exceptional circumstances”.
On Monday, an appeal against her decision was dismissed.
A storm of local protest followed the initial plans, with the 110m (361ft) high structures earmarked for a site close to the A44 trunk road.
After the council refused permission, a public inquiry took place last year when Hendy Wind Farms appealed.
Planning inspector Hywel Wyn Jones recommended this should be dismissed.
In a report, he said the wind farm would be capable of providing renewable energy to more than 12,000 homes and reducing carbon dioxide levels in the air by almost 27,000 tonnes a year.
‘Exceptional circumstances’
However, he said benefits were outweighed by harm to the local landscape – citing the iconic Llandegley Rocks and views of important prehistoric and medieval remains.
But in November, energy, planning and rural affairs secretary Ms Griffiths decided to give the turbines the go-ahead.
Although she accepted the wind farm would have “a significant impact” on the monuments, she disagreed with the inspector’s conclusions.
Focusing on the pressing need for on-shore renewable energy sources, she said there were “exceptional circumstances” justifying the development.
The Campaign for Rural England mounted a judicial review challenge to Ms Griffiths’ decision but had its case dismissed by a senior judge.
Sir Wyn Williams rejected arguments that she misunderstood what is meant by “exceptional circumstances” or that her decision was irrational.
The reasons Ms Griffiths’ gave for approving the project were “adequate and sufficient”, the judge concluded.
This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.
| Wind Watch relies entirely on User Funding |
 (via Stripe) |
 (via Paypal) |
Share:
[ Short URL: https://wind-watch.org/news/?p=92191 ]
