Turbine threat to town views

Two wind turbines planned for a site over-looking Southwell would have a negative impact on the town’s important heritage, it has been claimed.

Nottingham Trent University is seeking permission from Newark and Sherwood District Council to install the 60-metre high turbines at its Brackenhurst campus.

One would be owned by the university and it is hoped the other could be owned or part-owned by the community.

Residents from Southwell and Halloughton, the village nearest the site, objected to the application at a meeting of Southwell Town Council’s planning committee.

The committee had previously backed the application, but discussed it again after new information was provided.

The chairman of Southwell Civic Society, Mr Mike Struggles, said they were concerned the turbines would detract from views of heritage sites such as the minster and listed houses including Burgage Manor.

Mr Struggles said the turbine would probably be visible from a large area.

He said: “The whole of the centre of Southwell and the conservation area would be totally in sight of the turbines.

“From Reg Taylor’s Garden Centre you will be able to see 90% of the turbine and from the former Minster School site on Church Street you will be able to see about 80%, although these figures don’t take into account trees or buildings that may block the views a little.

“From the minster you will probably be able to see about 60% of the turbine and you will have two rotating turbines above the minster.”

Dr Margaret Evans spoke on behalf of residents from Halloughton.

She said villagers supported the council’s efforts to make Southwell a heritage destination for tourists and thought the turbines would spoil views of the minster for people entering and leaving the town.

She said Halloughton also contained many listed buildings, on which the turbines would have an impact.

Dr Evans said: “We oppose very firmly the planning application from Nottingham Trent University.

“We feel the planning application should fail on the grounds of its impact on the conservation area and the heritage which would be damaged.”

Concerns were also raised about the impact on footpaths and bridleways that passed near the turbines.

Dr Evans said a heritage impact statement had not been provided with the application and she did not think the council had enough information to make a decision.

The university’s agent, Mr Patrick Downs, of Harris and Lamb, said more information would be provided about the impact the turbines would have on Southwell Workhouse and about any noise that might affect student accomodation.

He said the impact on views could be minimal because the turbines would be set in a very wide landscape with other distractions to draw the eye away from them.

Mr Grant Anderson, the university’s environment manager, said the turbines were part of plans to reduce the university’s carbon footprint and environmental impact.

He said Brackenhurst was a working farm and the turbine would demonstrate to students alternative ways of generating profit from farmland.

The committee deferred making fresh comments until more information was submitted about the impact on the heritage and the noise the turbines might produce.