CPRE Leicestershire

A planning application was submitted to Melton Borough Council planners in early January 2011 for a wind farm comprising nine turbines, one of which had a ground to blade tip height of 108 metres and the others would have been 125 metres high. That's approximately 355 and 410 feet respectively. Accordingly, the CPRE District representatives for the Melton area weighed up the application and subsequently submitted the following letter of objection:

16th March 2011

Dear Mrs Wallis,

Re: Planning Application 10/00951/FUL – Asfordby Wind Farm

Leicestershire Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) wish to object to the planning application for 9 x 125 metre high wind turbines at Asfordby on the following grounds:
• The application is contrary to Policy OS2 of the Melton Local Plan.
• There will be significant adverse impact on the setting of local heritage assets and the wider historic landscape.
• There will be significant adverse impact on 4 landscape character areas.
• There will be significant loss of amenity for people who live and/or work nearby and for people who use the footpaths and bridleways which run through and close to the site.
• There will be a significant adverse impact on bats and birds who nest, roost, feed and travel through this site. 
The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) advocates positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. CPRE believes that wind turbines have a potential role to play in helping us to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide generated by electricity production. CPRE supports applications for renewable energy provision which are appropriately located and supports government energy policies which will:

• Encourage energy conservation and efficiency;
• Promote a mix of renewable energy sources; and
• Value and protect the countryside for its beauty, tranquility and diversity. 
CPRE is supportive of wind energy in appropriate locations. Leicestershire CPRE evaluates each planning application for its impact on the landscape and character of the area whilst taking account of the general environmental benefits. We believe that Asfordby is not an appropriate location for a wind farm and that the potential environmental benefits of this application are outweighed by the significant adverse impacts which it would have on the landscape, heritage assets, local residents and wildlife.

Planning Guidelines

Under Policy OS2 of the Melton Local Plan the proposed site is designated as open countryside and the scale and nature of this development would create a predominantly industrial landscape. The site is an area which has been restored from a redundant colliery now mostly restored to agricultural use as per the original planning conditions. Over the past 13 years, there has been substantial landscaping and tree planting and there is a developing diversity of flora and fauna. There is a small business park on and adjacent to the site, but this is not obtrusive. The impact which these very large moving objects would have on the important historic assets and landscape would be very significant and contrary to the objectives of PPS5.

This view is held by Leicestershire County Council who are objecting to this planning application. In its recommendations, the County Council “acknowledges that there is general support for the principle of development for renewable energy projects set out in national and regional policy guidance, particularly PPS1 (Supplement on Climate Change) and PPS22.” The County Council reports that “the East Midlands Region has a significant capacity of operational, and consented projects, which exceed the approved targets in the East Midlands Regional Plan. It seems likely that there will be increased significance given to renewable energy generation in future government guidance, and an increase in targets for on-shore wind energy in the future.”

The County Council conclude that “notwithstanding the applicant’s own assessment, it is considered that the proposed development would have a significant adverse impact on a number of important historic assets and the wider, relatively unspoilt local landscape setting, contrary to the objectives set out in PPS5. Overall it is considered that the impact of the proposals outweighs the more general environmental benefits for renewable energy generated by the development, and the County Planning Authority raises an objection to the proposed development on this basis.” CPRE supports the County Council`s recommendation to Melton Borough Council to refuse permission for this wind farm.

Impact on Historic Assets and Historic Landscape

PPS5 and English Heritage guidance stress the need to take account of the impact on the setting of historic assets from wind energy developments. English Heritage advise that “where the most prominent historic features are visually dominant (such as church spires), adjacent construction of wind turbines may be inappropriate.” The Church of St.Batholomew at Welby (Grade 2*) is very close to the site as is Welby Grange (Grade 2) and the site of the mediaeval village of Welby. There would be a major impact on these historical assets. There would also be a major adverse impact on the setting of 2 Grade 1 Listed churches - Church of All Saints (Asfordby) and Church of St. Peter (Kirby Bellars). There are 4 other Grade II* Listed Buildings - Church of St. Peter (Saxelby), Saxelby Manor House, Church of St.Michael (Wartnaby), Church of St. James (Ab Kettleby) whose setting would be significantly affected by the rotating blades of 125 metre high turbines. 
The proposed development would be visible over a wide area and would have a significant adverse impact on the landscape setting across the Wreake Valley. The turbines would become a prominent feature on the landscape from Burrough on the Hill Iron Age fort, which is a scheduled ancient monument protected by English Heritage. Recent excavations have shown that there has been human activity around the hill fort since 10,000 B.C.There could be a cumulative impact on the hill fort if permission was granted for wind turbines on the old airfield between Great Dalby and Melton Mowbray.

Landscape Impact

The proposed site lies within the Wolds Landscape Character Area. It has been designated as open countryside in the Melton Local Plan. Despite its history as a colliery the site now appears as a relatively unspoilt landscape. Recently a blimp was flown at the turbine sites by Peel Energy at the request of Alan Duncan, M.P. It was evident form many observers (including Alan Duncan) that the photomontages in the Environmental Assessment did not accurately predict the visual impact which will arise from the height and movement of the turbines. The blimp was visible from the immediate area around Asfordby and across a wide area – from the Wreake Valley and from Beacon Hill, Bottesford in the Vale of Belvoir. This demonstrated that the turbines will have a significant adverse impact on the local landscape and on wider views in 3 surrounding Landscape Character Areas - Wreake Valley, High Leicestershire and the Vale of Belvoir.

Loss of Amenity

There are 300 homes at Asfordby Hill which lies only 700 kms from the nearest proposed turbine. Asfordby Farm is adjacent to the site. The residents will suffer significant adverse visual impact on the views from their homes. The type of turbines which have been proposed have a low sweep. There is a risk that this can cause noise problems particularly where they are located in this type of undulating topography. There could also be problems for nearby residents from shadow flicker. There is a new recommended standard from the Department of Energy and Climate Change that turbines should be located at least 10 times the blade diameter from the nearest home.
There are several footpaths and bridleways which run through and adjacent to the site. These are regularly used by people from nearby villages and from the town of Melton Mowbray. These rights of way give people easy access to a tranquil and natural landscape where they can escape from the stresses of work pressures and daily routines. Research undertaken by CPRE, Natural England and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have all shown the importance which people place on finding peace and quiet in the countryside. This benefit would be undermined by the noise and visual intrusion arising from 9 x 125 metre high wind turbines. Consequently, there would be a major loss of recreational amenity in the area.

Rural Economy

Peel Energy propose to site Turbine 9 adjacent to the Serco Business Unit in the Asfordby Business Park. This would have a significant adverse impact on the employees whose view would be dominated by the turbine. It would also pose a significant risk to them in the event of it catching fire or collapsing. Also, there is a risk of ice being thrown off the blades, as has happened in a car park in Peterborough. The setting of this workplace would suffer from visual intrusion, noise and flicker. It would become an undesirable place to work and the company could experience problems with recruitment and retention of staff. There is a considerable risk that they would relocate their business. Serco have a specialised testing operation on this site for underground trains and they have a skilled workforce. Their relocation would be a considerable loss to the local economy. This would not be compensated by the very small number of local people who could obtain employment on the wind energy site over the 25 years of its life.

Ecology

The information in the Ecology Report in the Environmental Statement (ES) is inadequate and it underestimates the importance of the development site for bats and birds. There are important nature reserves around Holwell which lie 2 – 4 kms from the proposed wind energy site. Only Holwell Mouth SSSI is identified in the report, but the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust also has nature reserves at Brown`s Hill Quarry, Holwell Mineral Line and North Quarry. Brown`s Hill is particularly relevant to this planning application as there are 4 species of bats which are recorded there. 6 different types of bats (Natterer’s, Daubenton’s, Brown long-eared, Greater Horseshoe, Noctule and Pipistrelle) have all been recorded at the Asfordby development site. The Leicestershire and Rutland Bat Group have advised me that the bats have a foraging range of up to 5 kms. The 9 turbines would stand within this range and there is evidence that the moving blades pose a hazard to bats. Researchers from the University of Calgary have found that bats are at risk from wind turbines, because the rotating blades produce a change in air pressure that can kill the mammals. In 2008 a bid to build a wind farm near Bideford in north Devon was turned down because of the potential impact on the mammals. The ES for Asfordby states that a Phase 1 Habitat Study was undertaken. However, this does not include a study of the Bat Feeding Zones (BFZ) which should be undertaken in a Phase 2 Habitat Study. Bats have statutory protection and there is insufficient information provided in the report about their use of this site at Asfordby.

In the summary of important nature reserves there is no mention of Priory Waters which lies approximately 1 mile from the nearest proposed turbine. This is managed as a Wildfowl Conservation site. The Ecology report acknowledges that they have no data on the flight lines for species which are known to be at high risk of collision – ducks, swans, geese, raptors and wading birds. These are all species of birds which are seen at Priory Waters and the surrounding area. Noctule bats regularly feed on the damsel flies and other insects at Priory Waters. They are at a higher risk from the turbines as they generally fly higher than other bats.

Also, the report does not include a study of the invertebrates in the area, such as the damsel and dragon flies, which form an important part of the diet of bats and birds. There is no assessment of the impact of the proposed development on invertebrates and the consequent impact on the bats and birds who feed on them.

Nature reserves do not operate as closed environments. It is important for their robust diversity that there are green corridors which connect them. It would seem that the area between Asfordby and Holwell provides an important habitat not only for the bats and birds which live there and visit it, but also for the creatures which move between the local sites for nature conservation. CPRE is concerned that there are major inadequacies in the study which has been commissioned by the developers and that the mitigation measures will be ineffective in protecting endangered species. We would recommend that Melton Borough Council adopt the precautionary principle in regard to protecting bats and birds using this site.

Recommendation

Leicestershire CPRE urges the Members of Melton Borough Council to refuse this planning application. Leicestershire CPRE objects to the application for 9 x 125 metre high wind turbines at Asfordby on the grounds that the significant adverse impacts on the nearby and wider historic assets, landscape, residential and recreational amenity, local business, bats and birds outweigh the possible environmental benefits of the proposal.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Finch