Plan for village farm wind turbine moves closer

Plans for a 119ft wind turbine in a village near Ellesmere have moved a step closer to approval, despite about 100 objections from residents.

Shropshire Council planning officers have recommended that the plans for Winston Farm in Tetchill should be approved. It comes despite claims from villagers it would be an eyesore, send house prices tumbling and pave the way for more turbines in the future.

A petition with 85 signatures was sent to Shropshire Council and 16 objections were lodged raising concerns that the turbine would be a blight on the landscape and raise noise and health issues.

Farm bosses want to put the 50kw turbine up in a bid to ensure the viability of the farm, which houses 900 cattle and 2,500 finishing lambs.

A report to councillors tasked with making the final decision from planning officers said that the proposals were 'an acceptable development'.

It said it would not 'have a significant detrimental impact on either the quality or character of the surrounding rural and open landscape in terms of its scale and design'.

Ellesmere Rural Parish Council supported the application and Hordley Parish Council also backed it in principle, but asked that consideration be given to a smaller turbine being erected.

The turbine would stand on a plateau at the 300-acre farm, south of Tetchill, more than 1,000 feet away from the nearest homes.

Local residents raised fears that military aircraft training would be jeopardised by the development but the Ministry of Defence said there was no reason to conclude the turbine would have any implications for aircrafts.

A statement in support of the plans, submitted by agent Richard Corbett said that the applicant wished to diversify the income produced on the farm to support his young family and to ensure its future viability.

If planning permission is approved farm bosses would have to produce a construction management plan to determine the route of construction traffic and agree a tree planting scheme.

A decision on the plans is due at a Shropshire Council planning meeting at 2pm on Tuesday at the council offices in Wem.