09/00524/FUL Construction of two wind turbines, access track and ancillary equipment at South Staffordshire College Rodbaston Campus

Two 126 metre high Wind Turbines (415 feet) situated on peat land very close to the M6 Motorway and the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal.  

There have been a lot of local objections to this application based on visual intrusion in the landscape (Cannock Chase AONB objected), noise, health issues, danger of accidents, and too near to the 9,000 people living in Penkridge and to many whom live much closer.    It is close to Otherton Airfield, several farm homes, the College itself, and to one of the most well known heronries in the country only 1.2Km away.   Bats have recently been found to be very susceptible to wind turbines which, if they fly near them, causes their lungs to explode (bats are supposed to be protected by law).

All these fears, problems, dangers and objections have been voiced but the recommendation from the Planning Officers to the Regulatory Committee was that the application should be approved and no account taken of all the objections  At a meeting of the Committee on the 16 February 2010, it was decided to defer the decision until further information was obtained. 

The Committee will meet again in early March to decide this application by Wind Direct Ltd.  

At a meeting of SSDC Regulatory Committee in early April, Councillors agreed to
REFUSE THIS APPLICATION    -    Click here for Reasons for Refusal

NOW THE APPLICANTS HAVE APPEALED AGAINST THE DECISION AND ANYONE CAN NOW MAKE WRITTEN COMMENTS TO THE INSPECTOR SO LONG AS THEY ARE RECEIVED BY THE 31 AUGUST 2010.