South Kesteven District Council planners refused the application from Infinergy to build 10 turbines at Thackson's Well.

During the debate on the plan Infinergy chief executive Charles Sandham warned Vale of Belvoir residents of an impending "climate catastrophe" and has asked to "borrow the landscape" for 25 years to help address the issue.

Lead planning officer Mark Shipman told committee members before the vote that the plan was one of "national importance".

Speaking to South Kesteven District Council's planning committee, Mr Sandham claimed the Duke of Rutland supports the plan, which has been opposed by his mother Frances, Dowager Duchess of Rutland, who attended the meeting.

Speakers in support of the proposal were Mary Fisher, who conducted the visual impact assessment on the site, and an archaeologist who addressed concerns raised by English Heritage.

This afternoon six people have spoken in favour of the plan to build the 10 wind turbines at Thackson's Well, near Bottesford.

More than 150 people attended the morning session of the meeting to decide whether a wind farm can be built on the site north of Grantham.

South Kesteven District Council's development control committee was tasked with deciding whether ten 410ft turbines could be built.

This morning, the committee heard representations from those opposed to the plans, in the ballroom at The Guildhall in Grantham.

Campaign group BLOT - Belvoir Locals Opposing Turbines - put forward five speakers, including Justin Barry, who moved to Allington a few months ago and whose wife suffers migraines caused by excessive noise and light.He is concerned about the effect the turbines could have on her health.

A further 15 speakers, including representatives of English Heritage and the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, and four parish councils have spoken against the plans.

Concerns were raised about the effect the turbines could have on nearby Roseland Business Park, at Long Bennington, which employs 700 people at 20 firms.

Nelsons solicitor Jon Roberts, speaking on behalf of the Roseland Group, revealed that a planning application has already been passed to allow concrete firm Bell and Webster to build on the site. If the wind farm application was granted, Bell and Webster's new office would be just 68 metres away from the closest turbine.

He said: "On that application there was a condition that the office building must not be more than six metres high.

"This was deemed by this committee to be necessary in order not to have an adverse effect on the locality.

"It would be irrational and disproportionate to grant permission for these turbines just 68 metres away from the office."

The proposed wind turbines are 125 metres high.


Click here to visit the wind farm section of our website where you can follow the story from the beginning.

CLICK HERE TO TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE RESULT.


COMMENTS

Having attended the meeting and listened to the arguments, there was overwhelming evidence against the proposal from the many parish councils and local groups and little supporting evidence, leaving the council with the no real choice but to reject the application.

This has nothing to do with NIMBYism, the case was argued on the development points outlined by the Committee chairman at the beginning of the meeting.

Thank goodness common sense has prevailed, but for how long?

Is this a game of poker in which those the most money win eventually?

AC
Sedgebrook

Well done to the South Kesteven District Council planners. At last some sense is shown.

Steve Cattell
Hougham

Build a nuclear power station on the site then let the people who opposed the wind farm moan about it I know which one I would go for!

Anon

How disappointing that we are unable to innovate in this area and back technology that suits this windbeaten landscape. I'd far rather be looking at windturbines than experiencing the visual and electromagnetic effects of pylons coming down from the polluting power stations that our neighbours host for us.

Alison Drasdo