Controversial wind farm plan for Fritwell/Fewcott rejected (From Oxford Mail)

Controversial wind farm plan for Fritwell/Fewcott rejected

4:32pm Friday 24th April 2009

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COUNCILLORS have thrown out a controversial proposal to build four wind turbines — 15 times higher than the average house — just outside Bicester.

Cherwell District Council planning committee voted unanimously against their own officer’s recommendation for a £10m wind farm on farmland between Fewcott and Fritwell.

Residents were furious over the plan and bombarded councillors with letters of objection, claiming their village was the wrong site and a wind farm would be better built on open moorland — or out at sea.

Chesterfield-based Bolsterstone planned to build the wind farm at Willowbank Farm, just south of the M40, and said it could produce enough energy to power 5,380 homes a year.

Each turbine would stand 125 metres tall — twice the height of Nelson’s Column — and the nearest home, excluding the farmer’s house, would have been about 500 metres away.

But district councillor Catharine Fulljames, who represents Caversfield which covers Ardley, said the application was contrary to local and national planning policies.

Concerns were also raised over construction traffic, wildlife, interference to televisions, the size of turbines and proximity to homes.

Mrs Fulljames said: “The proposed wind farm has significant impact in the landscape and should not be permitted.

“I think they would be very overpowering and dominant over a number of households.

“Here we are putting four enormous giants on the outside of two conservation areas — I can’t believe the council do conservation reports and then go and poo- poo them.”

She pointed out that during the nine-month construction period there would be 33 exceptional loads — vehicles 44m long — travelling on rural roads, as well as thousands of lorry movements.

The turbines would be visible from places as far away as Middleton Cheney, Poundon, Blenheim Park and parts of the Cotswolds.

At the planning commitee meeting, councillors were shown a series of photographs from these viewpoints and were told many trees already there would screen the turbines.

But Mrs Fulljames hit back accusing officers of hiding behind trees when they took the pictures.

James Macnamara, who represents Astons and Heyfords, said: “I see this as a huge industrial development in the open countryside.

“It’s totally inappropriate for the area.”

He said letters supporting the wind farm from places such as London, Yorkshire and Aberdeen should be excluded from the debate.

Council leader Barry Wood said: “As a council we are committed to doing what we can to stop climate change, but that does not mean commitment overrides common sense.”

After the meeting Andrew Hunter, of Green Farm, Fewcott, said: “I’m delighted. They have saved my farm.”

He said he would fight any appeal from Bolsterstone.

Geoff Mills, of Fewcott, added: “Common sense prevails.

“It just beggars belief what they wanted to stick there — now they can stick it.”

bicester@oxfordmail.co.uk

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