Approval for second wind turbine in AONB

Members of West Berkshire Council’s western area planning committee voted five to four to adopt their planning officer’s recommendation to allow it.
This was despite 24 formal objections from members of the public and an impassioned address to the committee last night (Wednesday) by former National Hunt Champion Jockey, television pundit and author John Francome , who said his home overlooks the site.
He said: “So many places have been blighted in this country but this beautiful area isn’t one of them. I’ve nothing against turbines but why put them there? It’s the wrong place.”
But a spokeswoman for Lambourn Parish Council, George Corney, said: “Our ethos is to encourage eco-sustainable projects for our children and grandchildren’s benefit. The existing turbine hasn’t had a big impact.”
She was referring to an 18 metre turbine for which Sheepdrove Organic Farm won planning permission last March, despite similar public protest.
Planning officer Derek Carngie reminded committee members of their site visit and concluded: “We feel the implications for the landscape are not serious enough to warrant refusal.”
Hilary Cole (Con, Chieveley), portfolio holder for Countryside and Planning and Transport, said: “Although I was previously responsible for the council’s ‘cleaner, greener’ initiative, I think these turbines are as much use as a chocolate teapot.
“They are a blight on the landscape and we have to be extremely vigilant about them. Off-shore? Okay, perhaps, but not on land.”
Roger Hunneman (Lib Dem, Victoria) said: “On our site visit I found it very difficult to see the other turbine and it will be the same with this one. The only harm would be if there were hundreds of them.”
Mr Carnegie interjected to inform the committee that a cumulative effect of any hypothetical future applications would be a valid planning consideration and could therefore be taken into account by the committee
Garth Simpson (Con, Cold Ash) said wind turbines were a costly way of generating electricity and added: “I cannot support it.”
Jeck Beck (Con, Clay Hill) referred to the site visit and said: “I can find absolutely nothing wrong with this from the point of view of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). I propose we accept the recommendation.”
The successful application, with the location revised to take account of bats in nearby barns, is for one 5KW Evance R9000 wind turbine on a 15 metre tower.
It will, said the application, allow the farm to produce its own “green electricity,” reduce its carbon footprint and increase its self-sustainability.
The application added: “The openness of the landscape will help to absorb the small scale turbine and will reduce the visual impact. The structure will be visible from certain viewpoints but, given its location and its scale, it will not have an adverse effect on the overall character of the landscape; nor will it significantly harm its quality or value.
“The barn and the nearby wood provide some screening from certain viewpoints and help detract from the prominence of the turbine.”