Decision triggers public inquiry
19 November 2010
Cheshire West and Chester Council is objecting to a proposal for
a 20 turbine onshore wind farm and generating station in the Green
Belt based at Lordship Lane in Frodsham.
The Council was asked for its views by the Government, which is
considering the application by Peel Wind Farms (Frodsham) Limited.
The objection will now trigger a public inquiry.
The Strategic Planning Committee considered the 60MW scheme,
which would operate over a 25-year period before being
decommissioned and then potentially restored.
Local Frodsham and Helsby Councillor Les Ford told the meeting:
“There have been 563 letters of objection and 293 in support. Of
the addresses checked so far only 65 were from residents from
Frodsham, Helsby and Elton.
“The Green Belt was established to prevent industrialisation of
this area. The wind turbines are an industrial element quite
contrary to our Green Belt policy. No mitigation is possible.
“Also the low frequency noise of the turbines will penetrate
house walls and travel a great distance.”
Councillor Ford also raised the issue of protected species of
birds and bats, claiming thousands could be killed by the turbines
and argued that this was contrary to the Wildlife and Countryside
Act 1981. This issue will now be raised with the Secretary of
State.
The turbines have a maximum height of 80 metres to the hub and
125 metres to the tip, giving a rotor radius of approximately 45
metres. They would be three bladed and grey in colour.
They could be seen from Helsby Hill, the Northern Sandstone
Ridge and the Frodsham Sandstone Fringe.
Councillor Malcolm Gaskill said: “In the past I have supported
wind farms until I went to Anglesey and saw those monsters and I
have hated wind farms ever since. They should be in the North
Sea.”
Approximately 4,498 homes would be within 2km of any proposed
turbines. The residential assessment has identified that 36 percent
would experience changes in views.
Councillor Stuart Parker added: “Having seen the big wheel
outside the HQ building here in Chester that is 50 metres high, the
wind turbines would be up to 120 metres. This really brings it home
to you.”
The committee considered that the wider benefits of the
renewable energy development in this case were outweighed by
considerations including the North Cheshire Green Belt, the Mersey
Estuary Zone, designate sites of international and national nature
conservation importance and the development would adversely affect
the setting of Helsby Hill, a Scheduled Ancient Monument.