Victory for villagers as wind turbine appeal refused

Villagers on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border are celebrating after blocking plans for a giant windfarm on their doorstep.

A Government planning inspector has sided with campaigners to stop plans for the windfarm at Brineton, near Weston-under-Lizard. Energy giant EDF and Bristol-based windfarm specialists Wind Prospect appealed against the decision to refuse planning permission for six turbines.

The turbines, each as high as a 40-storey skyscraper, were earmarked for land owned by Lord Newport and his fellow directors at Bradford Rural Estates.

South Staffordshire Council refused permission for the site at Brineton, saying the turbines would be 'an unacceptable visual intrusion'.

A two-week inquiry was held and yesterday inspector Elizabeth Fieldhouse announced the appeal was dismissed.

Campaigners said the six 413ft (126m) high turbines would devastate the area and also feared that a road the developers wanted to build would lead to further industrial development in open countryside.

Villagers formed the Stop the Turbines Action Group (Stag) and have been supported by objections from numerous bodies including South Staffordshire Council, English Heritage, the Council for the Protection of Rural England, MEPs and MPs.

Stag chairman Tony Lendon said: "This is tremendous news and quite incredible that a small group of residents cannot only stand up to but also beat such heavyweight opposition."

The inspector said: "The benefits of producing renewable energy and assisting in meeting national obligations, aspirations and helping to reduce the impact of climate change have to be set against the identified harm.

"Overall, the benefits of the project are outweighed by the harm and the balance falls firmly against the grant of permission."