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Planning inspector visits site of Ecotricity's proposed wind farm

Published on : 12/09/2012

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A government planning inspector has visited the proposed site of a controversial new wind farm.

Richard Thomas visited the site, at which Ecotricity - one of the UK's green energy suppliers - is planning to build four turbines, located at Standle Farm, in Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire. Members of Stroud Council have already rejected the proposal - in 2011 - and locals have vented their anger, arguing that it could affect the nearby Berkeley Vale.

Following Thomas' visit, Ecotricity and Stroud District Council provided him with evidence at the latter's headquarters.

The Citizen reported that Ecotricity representative, Dave Hardy, stated: "At the point of decommissioning, the landscape of Berkeley Vale would be exactly the same as someone would see today.

"There's no permanent damage to the landscape infrastructure," he said, before adding: "The reduction in carbon emissions must carry significant weight in planning decisions."

Stroud District Council's representative, Paul Smith, said: "We have acknowledge that the need for renewable energy is a factor and it is the inspector's decision to decide how much weight is applied to that need."

Members of a local campaign group, Save Berkeley Vale, stated that they remained hopeful that Ecotricity would not be given planning permission.

It's chairman, Jack Sant, commented: "To build turbines on Standle Farm is totally inappropriate, because of the impact on the AONB (area of natural beauty) and the proximity to a number of properties."

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