Turbine plan near Ellesmere is thrown out
An appeal by developers wanting to build a wind turbine almost 100 metres tall near Ellesmere has been thrown out by planning inspectors.
The 327ft (99.7 metre) turbine was planned for Tetchill, but the scheme was axed because of the impact it could have on nearby heritage sites such as Ellesmere Wharf and the Grade II* listed building Hardwick Hall.
It comes after hundreds of people objected to the plans put forward by developers Seven Sisters, saying the turbine would distract motorists and harm the landscape.
Planning officers at Shropshire Council rejected the plans in November.
Councillor Ian Ward, mayor of Ellesmere, said: "I think most people in the town think it is a wonderful result.
"It would have had such an adverse impact on the visibility and the nearby heritage buildings. "It is a very pleasing result and it is one problem off our plates.It is good to see a result like this when the community has spoken more or less as one voice."
"There were a few people who were for it, but most were against it.
"I think it was the wrong place for a turbine – there are other places where it might have been more suitable.
"But for the town I think this is the right decision now."
In her report, planning inspector Anne Jordan said: "In local and mid-range views the visual impact of a turbine of the scale and location proposed, would have a very significant harmful effect on the local area.
"Together the harm to landscape and visual amenity, and the harm the proposal would cause to a number of heritage assets in the locality would be greater than the benefits to renewable energy provision, and to the economic sustainability of the agricultural holding."
