New Sheepdrove turbine planned

A similar application last year generated vociferous - but unltimately futile - protests.
Last March, West Berkshire Council’s western area planning committee voted to overrule objections by conservationists and to allow the 18 metre high construct.
At that time, Jane Rowlinson unsuccessfuly warned on behalf of the Friends of Lambourn Downs (FOLD) that granting the application would create an unwelcome precedent.
Protesters had gathered outside the council committe meeting beforehand, angry at a perceived blot on the landscape and a potential threat to horses.
The latest application is for the erection of an identical Evance R9000 turbine on land to the south of Sheepdrove Organic Farm.
In their pitch to planners, the applicants state: “This proposal follows the successful installation of an identical turbine at Sheepdrove Farmhouse. “The application did come up against a lot of opposition during the planning process but has been met with positive feedback since its installation. “For this reason the farm want to install a second turbine, out of sight, on the other side of the farm.”
The turbine is designed to allow the farm to produce its own, ‘green’ electricity and the application states: “Due to the turbine’s restricted scale, we believe no strategic views across the area will be affected.
“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.”
It adds: “Mitigating circumstances to offset any impact include the positive carbon saving per year, helping to contribute towards the regional targets for renewable energy generation which will, in turn, help to maintain the natural environment in the long term.....whilst it is accepted there will be some impact in the landscape, it is not considered that the impact would be so adverse as to justify the refusal of the application for this reason alone.”
Members of the public can express their views, for and against, on West Berkshire Council’s online planning pages by visiting the website at www.westberks.gov.uk then going to the planning section and using the reference 13/00833/FUL