Planning Consent for Wind Turbines

From the Somerset County Gazette

MP slams wind turbine proposals
7:00pm Monday 23rd November 2009


By Lloyd Vaughan »


GOVERNMENT proposals to enable wind turbine companies to sidestep planning consent are "a serious worry", according to West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger.

The new rules, designed to cut red tape and costs, would have strict noise, appearance and size conditions attached.

But wind turbines up to 50ft high could still be put up without going out to consultation or needing planning permission.

Mr Liddell-Grainger said the move mentioned in last week's Queen's Speech was "disturbing".

“Wind turbines at sea is fair enough,” said Mr Liddell-Grainger.

“But if they can just put them up on land willy-nilly, we'd end up with a forest of the things on the Quantocks, Exmoor, the levels and heaven knows where else.

“This is just not the way to do it.”

Mr Liddell-Grainger said there had been full consultation over Hinkley C and D power stations: “Such consultation is valuable and essential - but the wind turbine companies could just go ahead and do it.

“It's a serious worry,” he added.