Giant wind turbine plan rejected
Lancashire Evening Post|September 3, 2008
Plans for a 127 metre-high wind turbine next to Dewlay's cheese business off the A6 near Garstang have been rejected. The company wanted to boost its green credentials by being powered by energy supplied from the towering turbine, which would have stood almost as high as Blackpool Tower. But councillors, worried about the turbine's imact on the flat Wyre countryside, have told cheese company bosses and their backers the project is too big and would be out of place.
Plans for a 127 metre-high wind turbine next to Dewlay's cheese business off the A6 near Garstang have been rejected. The company wanted to boost its green credentials by being powered by energy supplied from the towering turbine, which would have stood almost as high as Blackpool Tower. But councillors, worried about the turbine's imact on the flat Wyre countryside, have told cheese company bosses and their backers the project is too big and would be out of place.
Plans for a 127 metre-high wind turbine next to Dewlay's cheese business off the A6 near Garstang have been rejected.
The company wanted to boost its green credentials by being powered by energy supplied from the towering turbine, which would have stood almost as high as Blackpool Tower.
But councillors, worried about the turbine's imact on the flat Wyre countryside, have told cheese company bosses and their backers the project is too big and would be out of place.
About 50 residents from the Churchtown area attended yesterday's meeting of Wyre planning committee.
Several of them spoke in the public section of the meeting, voicing worries about noise, environmental impact and the affect on wildlife.
In the debate among …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]Plans for a 127 metre-high wind turbine next to Dewlay's cheese business off the A6 near Garstang have been rejected.
The company wanted to boost its green credentials by being powered by energy supplied from the towering turbine, which would have stood almost as high as Blackpool Tower.
But councillors, worried about the turbine's imact on the flat Wyre countryside, have told cheese company bosses and their backers the project is too big and would be out of place.
About 50 residents from the Churchtown area attended yesterday's meeting of Wyre planning committee.
Several of them spoke in the public section of the meeting, voicing worries about noise, environmental impact and the affect on wildlife.
In the debate among councillors, Coun Tom Balmain (Garstang) said: "It is a massive structure. I consider it would be a complete blot on the landscape and out of character with the area."
Coun Marlene Colby (Fleetwood) said she was a supporter of wind-generated power, but she had been "gobmsacked" by the scale of the Delway proposal.
Coun David Sharples, whose Catterall ward includes the Dewlay site, praised the commercial success of the award-winning cheese firm, but said he could not support the turbine.
He said: "It is incongrous to the local scene. It is massive - the largest one on land in the country."
The only support came from Coun Ron Shewan (Fleetwood) who said green energy was the way forward and the health risk from 'flicker' from the Dewlay turbine had been overplayed by the scheme's opponents.
Several parish councils in the greater Garstang area has also submitted objections.
* The company working with Dewlay on the plan, Wind Direct of Lancaster, is to appeal against the decision, which is likely to mean a public inquiry later this year or next year.