The company that failed last year to get the green light for its plans for two wind turbines in Stone has submitted a new planning application to build a single turbine on land at Cotwalton.
Hallmark Power Limited’s planning application for two turbines at land close to the Aston Lodge estate in Stone was turned down by Stafford Borough Council’s planning committee in November last year. More on that HERE
Hallmark submitted a fresh application for a single, 76-metre turbine on farmland at Cotwalton, about half a mile away from its first application. The application was submitted just a few weeks after its first one was turned down. The red dot on the map below shows its location at Cotwalton…
A planning statement supplied to the council by Hallmark’s Stephen Bate says the turbine will have “no adverse impact on landscape character, residential amenity, heritage assets or ecology features”.
There have been no objections from Natural England or the county council’s highways department, while Stafford Borough Council’s biodiversity officer says that a badger survey should be carried out.
People living in Cotwalton and nearby, however, have been lodging their objections to the application.
Steve Potts, a chartered electrical engineer who lives in Oulton, says the turbine “will have a negative impact on an area of wonderful natural beauty so close to the Moddershall Valley conversation area”.
Another objector wrote: “It will be visible from a wide area, not just Oulton village but Kibblestone, Moddershall, Cotwalton, Airdale Spinney and adjacent hillsides and valley locations”.
You can see the full planning application and all of the documents – as well as having your say if you wish – by clicking HERE A decision is expected on 18th February.
14 comments
John Beard
I very much hope the application is approved. It’s wonderful to see such a historic and well cared for environment (all credit to the land owner) move with the times to address the needs of our population, after all agriculture and so the landscape is a byproduct of our own existence.
Michael
These installations are commonplace in both Northern Germany and the Netherlands where turbines of the same size and make as this are seen as a local amenity not dis amenity. Regardless of one of the comments above, it is nimbyism. We need a mix of low carbon energy sources and this needs to be one of them. Had pylons not been installed many years ago, all the individuals objecting to turbines would have objected to these structures which are far less attractive than a turbine.
Sally
I hardly think that seeing ‘pretty windmills in the distance’ when driving up the M6 is the same as looking at them and listening to them 24/7. People who feel that they and their local community will be adversely affected have a right to be heard. Many have done their homework. This is not nimbyism, this is called DEMOCRACY! After all, many politicians, heads of organisations and government ministers have apologised for bad decisions and mistakes made over recent times with the added cliche of course… ” lessons have been learned”.
Dave Scrivens
This latest Wind Turbine is adjacent to ancient woodland,and the COTWALTON DRUMBLE is a site of special scientific interest and near to the Beautiful Moddershall Conservation area.It is to be 77 metres tall. and will be seen from many locations upto 2 miles away .The only people to benefit from this are the Company and the land owners.Lets do what Phillip Jones has suggested and OBJECT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE .
Tim
Brian, wave power and tidal power are two very different technologies. With tidal power generation very much in it’s infancy. Coal and gas won’t be around for long however nuclear is the future. It is just has an incredibly expensive cost initially and to decommission! Wind turbines will become more popular as it is a cheaper and smaller solution for instant electricity! And there is always wind higher up at say 46-70 meters as there is no relief from houses and trees etc etc
Jon moore
The developer, and the land owner(s) who are only interested in making a quick buck, continue to ignore the views of the residents and the councils elected representatives (for the original Stone Park Farm application that shadowed the Aston Lodge estate)
It will be interesting to see what recommendation the ‘professional’ officers of the Stafford BC planning department make over this of new application. After their recommendation of acceptance for 2x45m turbines was rejected last year.
Now we have two build schemes from Hallmark Power to fight: The appeal of the rejected application for 2x45m turbines to the Planning Inspectorate and this new 77m turbine.
If you care…Object Now, before its too late or we risk being blighted for the next twenty years plus.
Brian Scott
Wind turbines are NOT the future of energy because no wind = no energy. So pray tell me how will you be able to boil you kettle or watch tv when there is no wind? By coal, gas or nuclear that’s how. Wave power is the future not wind. Happens twice ever day forever. Come on folks. Wake up and shout loudly. This is political bribery of the worst kind, not environmental.
Bob
Has anyone noticed that the proposers of the Aston Lodge wind turbine farm have appealed against their refusal of planning permission? Letters have been sent to previous objectors by SBC. Its a live application again.
Jamie Summerfield
Thanks Bob. I’ll update the article with those details
Tim
It is always the same with wing turbines. “not in my back yard”. Unfortunately this is the future of energy and we are all going to have to learn to deal with that! Everybody wants electricity and this is the future of providing it!
Brian scott
Well said Phillip. These turbines are a political disaster. Short term cash subsidies mean land owning individuals make loads of money while our rural communities suffer noise and visual pollution, wildlife is disturbed or killed and house values plummet. For a personal one off gain thousands of people will endure a blight on their countryside for generations. Sad and immoral. Please everyone fight this proposal. If one gets approved then Stone will be surrounded by dozens of these monstrosities.
Philip Jones
I am so glad that I, together with Tom Jackson and the wonderful action group at Aston Lodge, was able to stop the outrageous application at Aston. This one too should be vigorously opposed for its malign effect on the Moddershall Valley Conservation Area. Wind turbines have nothing to do with security of electricity supply as the contribution that they can make is statistically insignificant. I urge as many people as possible to go online to the Borough Council’s planning site and object.
Philip Jones
Councillor
Paul
I personally have no problems with the turbines I’m a driver and see them everywhere, to have 1 or 2 near a town is not a problem, the UK needs to address the energy and this is a way forward. You would all be annoyed if one day you went to turn your TV on and there was no power, all because everyone doesn’t want a wind turbine near them. It is not polluting the air with co2. The country needs more of these to give us clean efficient energy. So wake up ppl if you want emission free energy for the future.
Brian Scott
We should all be very worried about this. If one application is permitted then Stone will soon be surrounded by dozens of wind turbines and we can say goodbye to our beautiful unspoilt countryside. One turbine is clearly uneconomical so they won’t stop here . Please object to this application.