Wind farm debates views

A witness for the company proposing to build a wind farm to the south east of Audlem near Knighton has said at the inquiry that the windfarm would not spoil the "magnificent" views from Willourbridge Lodge, a historic hunting lodge on the north Shropshire border.

Dr Jonathan Edis, a historian who was called to give evidence by applicant Nuon Renewables, made the claim during the inquiry considering plans for the windfarm on farmland at Lower Farm, Bearstone. He argued that the 110m-high turbines would not have an impact on the setting of the grade II-listed Willoughbridge Lodge, near Knighton.

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council representatives disagreed and said views of Shropshire and Cheshire from the lodge's tower would be marred by the seven turbines. The wind farm is located very near to the boundary between Newcastle and Shropshire but will also be seen from south Cheshire, including parts of Audlem and Buerton.

Dr Edis told the inquiry the turbines were well outside the lodge setting and should be considered in a similar way to farm buildings already built in the area. The turbines, he argued, would be "part of the new working environment" in the countryside, which already has many farm buildings and agricultural developments.

He said: "The listed building description for Willoughbridge Lodge states there are magnificent views over the plain from the tower. I appreciate the tower was designed to take advantage of those views, but I don't accept the setting of the lodge goes as far as the eyes can see."

The impact on listed buildings is a key part of the Inquiry – Willourbridge Lodge is Grade II* and has attracted much discussion at the Inquiry which began on Wednesday 6th May.

Dr Edis said of the view from the lodge: "I take the view there is one setting and it should be defined and is definable. The setting does not continue to flow out depending on where you stand. It's not incremental and is in fact finite." He added that views from the tower, designed to give hunting parties clear lines of sight, would have been altered over two centuries because of natural and man-made changes to the environment.

The inquiry is being held by Trevor Cookson, a Government planning inspector. It resulted from Nuon Renewables appealing against the refusal of planning permission by North Shropshire District Council last September at a meeting attended by 600 residents and following over 2,000 written objections being submitted, including those by Audlem and Buerton Parish Councils.

The inquiry continues.

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