130ft turbine in Chipping angers locals (From Lancashire Telegraph)

130ft turbine in Chipping angers locals

10:30am Tuesday 30th October 2012 in News

A PLAN to erect a 40-metre high wind turbine in the Ribble Valley has been met with anger.

Locals are urging planners to turn down the application for a turbine in Collins Hill Lane, Chipping, on the grounds it will destroy the Forest of Bowland’s natural beauty.

Resident David Hindle said: “A 40 metre turbine, approximately a 130ft tall, will dominate the landscape and the village of Chipping.

“The applicant has attempted to say tree belts will screen it but at 130ft it will be way above the trees.

“This is the first application for a commercial turbine within an area of outstanding natural beauty and these applications are not about reducing farm costs, it’s about making vast profits.”

Applicant Anthony Rogerson has run Handlesteads Farm since 1999.

In his application to Ribble Valley Council, the plan for the proposed turbine is for it to reduce the applicants carbon footprint – by supplying all electricity needed to run the farm and farm house.

Any surplus energy will then be transferred to the grid to provide the farmer additional income.