Farm's wind turbine appeal turned down (From Herald Series)

Farm's wind turbine appeal turned down

6:00pm Saturday 13th October 2012 in Wantage/Grove

PLANS for a 20-metre wind turbine at a farm near Wantage have been refused on appeal.

The Planning Inspectorate threw out the 10kW plan for Down Barn Farm, at Sparsholt.

It would have provided energy to the farm and farmhouse, including a bed and breakfast business and holiday unit.

The applicant said the turbines “will appear neither out of scale nor dominant in its setting”, adding there are “few viewpoints in the surrounding area from where the turbine will be seen”.

But Vale of White Horse District Council rejected the plan in November as it is in the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

It said the turbine would be “visually prominent and would detract from the natural beauty of the landscape and views from public vantage points.”

The inspectorate said the impact on the landscape “clearly outweighs” the energy benefits.”

Sparsholt Parish Council objected last year, saying it would be “alien and intrusive” and The Campaign to Protect Rural England also opposed it.