Masts approved by Wychavon after long debate (From Evesham Journal)

Masts approved by Wychavon after long debate

10:17am Friday 3rd April 2009

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WIND monitoring masts will be built in two areas of the Vale after Wychavon District Council approved two planning applications - despite strong local opposition.

Developers Scottishpower Renewables will install temporary meteorological masts in Sheriffs Lench and Evesham, Road, Norton in order to measure wind resource for a potential wind farm in Lenchwick.

The two applications went before Wychavon’s development control committee yesterday and after much debate, it granted permission for the temporary structures.

They could be installed in six weeks and will stay up for three years.

The committee was divided in opinion on both applications and raised concerns that approval of the masts would indicate approval of a wind farm.

But planning officers assured councillors’ that was not the case.

Case officer Neil Pearce said: “It is not giving a green light for a wind farm, I must stress that. It will not set a precedent for any wind farm.”

More than 150 households objected to the application and several members of the public attended the meeting to hear the debate.

Coun David Lee said: “In all the 10 years that I have served on this committee I cannot recall any other application that has created so much hostility from local residents.

“Quite simply, the whole concept of masts is alien to this area. Masts and turbines may well have a part to play on the Welsh mountains and Scottish moors where the rental is important to impoverished farmers, but 83 per cent of local residents do no want these masts.”

Coun Judy Pearce responded saying: “These are essentially light weight mobile structures. I can’t see what harm it is going to do to the countryside. They are so small you are not going to see them.”

Coun Rob Adams agreed.

“I think we can live with these for three years,” he said. “It will bring information forward that is vital to know what might lead on to a wind farm.”

Dr Rod Stroud spoke on behalf of action group Vale Villagers Against Scottishpower.

He said: “It would be an urban structure in open countryside and would have a damaging affect on the local community. It is planned for a single purpose and that is to asses the viability of installing a wind farm.”

The two slimline masts will be 70-metres high, of steel monopole design and help up by steel guy wires

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