By Julian Whittle

Last updated at 13:19, Tuesday, 16 March 2010

Villagers in Cumwhinton are celebrating after a planning inspector threw out a scheme for three 377 feet high wind turbines at Newlands Farm near M6 junction 42.

An artist's impression of how the proposed turbines would look at Newlands Farm

Related: Government rejects plan for windfarm near Carlisle

Paul Griffiths says the proposed windfarm would have a “significant detrimental impact” on the occupiers of nearby Cringles Farm and Beech Cottage.

Cringles Farm would have been only 460 yards from the nearest turbine.

Allison Stamper, who lives there with her husband Colin, was a prime mover in the Newlands Windfarm Action Group, which campaigned against the scheme.

She said: “I am absolutely elated. This is the correct answer as far as we’re concerned. It was too close to the village and to ourselves and Beech Cottage in particular.”

Mr Stamper told a public inquiry last year that the strobe effect of the sun through the turbines would be like “someone flicking a light on and off constantly”.

Mrs Stamper said: “It would have had a dreadful impact. You would have been able to see the turbines from all our front-facing windows and the side of the house.”

Jean Burton, who has lived at Beech Cottage for 41 years, was equally pleased with the inspector’s ruling.

She said: “Today is my 66th birthday and this is the best birthday present that I could wish for.

“My life wouldn’t have been the same had this gone ahead. The turbines would have been so close.

“I was extremely worried about the flicker effect.”

Bolsterstone Innovative Energy had appealed against Carlisle City Council’s decision to refuse planning permission in 2008.

The council argued that the turbines – taller than Dixon’s Chimney in Carlisle – would be “seriously detrimental” to the landscape.

Mr Griffiths, who chaired the public inquiry that heard the appeal, delivered his verdict yesterday.

He accepts that the turbines would cause “some harm” to the landscape but says this would not be “significant”.

He also rejects arguments that the turbines would create unacceptable levels of noise, shadow flicker, pose a safety hazard to drivers on the M6 and harm tourism.

But he is persuaded by claims that Cringles Farm and Beech Cottage are too close.

Mr Griffiths’ report says: “The cluster would appear uncomfortably close [to Cringles Farm].

“The proximity of the turbine cluster and its spread would make it appear dominant and overpowering from the principal windows of the main house.

“This domineering presence would have a significant, detrimental effect on the living conditions of the occupiers.”

However, he has left the door open for a smaller-scale windfarm by allowing Bolsterstone to put up a 197ft meteorological mast at Newlands Farm.

This can stay in place for three years and will monitor wind speeds to test the site’s suitability for wind energy.

Mr Griffiths says: “The limited harm the mast would cause to the landscape is far outweighed by the benefit it would give in assessing the suitability of the site for a wind-turbine cluster.”

Bolsterstone’s planning application for wind turbines was one of the most contentious ever handled by the city council.

The authority received 1,300 objections while 242 people wrote in support.

So many people wanted to give evidence at the planning inquiry, originally scheduled for three days in October, that it had to reconvene for an extra day in December.

First published at 11:28, Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk