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Wind turbine plan stays in the balance

Friday, 3rd January 2014.

The decision to build a 250ft high wind turbine at Nosterfield End has been deferred.

Yesterday, members of St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s development control committee agreed to defer the application so a legal risk assessment could be carried out by officers into whether members could successfully refuse it.

The plan, first submitted by farmer James Sills for a piece of land near Ladygate Wood in February last year, has been the cause of debate by councillors and residents alike.

Concerns have been raised about the visual impact on the surrounding land, noise and the effect on nearby historic buildings.

An initial objection from National Air Traffic Services (NATS) stated that the turbine could compromise radars from Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted which could force planes to go off course.

NATS has since confirmed that no impact on air traffic operations is anticipated due to a modification of their radar system - which is standard practice for wind turbine sites.

Councillors wanted to vote against the turbine, but legal officer Peter Heard advised that to do so could well see them lose on appeal given that English Heritage, Suffolk Wildlife and other bodies had not raised objections.

It was agreed that the council's head of planning Rachael Almond would ensure a risk assessment was put together detailing the legal risks the council would face in voting no.

A vote on what the committee was 'minded' to do, resulted in seven for refusal and four against.

The next meeting is on February 6 and a firm decision is expected then.

Haverhill Online News

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