Town councils likely to be snubbed as wind farm expansion rolls on

TWO parish councils – Whittlesey and Ramsey- look set to have their objections quashed as Fenland District Council, with backing from Huntingdonshire District Council, agree to nearly double a wind farm.

Glassmoor Bank at Pondersbridge- near Ramsey Mereside and Whittlesey- is expected to expand from eight to 14 wind turbines if approval is given next week.

A report to Fenland District Council Planning Committee says the extra turbines “are not considered to adversely affect the visual outlook” or create a cumulative visual impact.

The report adds: “The turbines are prominent in the landscape but this factor must be set against the need nationally for renewable energy sources.

“In this case the planning balance is considered to fall in favour of the proposed scheme with the need for renewable energy outweighing any impacts on the local landscape.”

Apart from the parish councils the committee will hear that only two letters of objections have been received whilst there have been four letters of support.

Overall height of the turbines will be 100 metres including blades. Wind Prospect, the owners, first began planning for the original eight turbines in 2004, completing them three years later.

The company will be ordered to make a section 106 (developer gain) payment to Fenland Council of �22,500 with annual contributions of �7,500.