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Householders against Rushy Mead
The initial planning application has been rejected!
We are pleased to say that the Borough Council planning committee have now refused the Application for the Rushy Mead Wind Farm by a unanimous decision. The decision notice can be found on the WBC website here and a copy of the officers report can be found here.
What was most significant is that all the Parish Councils spoke against the application as did all the Borough Councillors in affected areas and neighbouring wards.
In recommending refusal the Head of Development at the Borough Council confirmed that the report had been subject to a legal review and that the reasons for refusal are robust and would, in the opinion of the legal expert, be sufficient to defend an appeal.
PFR have stated:
“We are very much aware that we have a responsibility to the local community to make a quick and informed decision on what our next steps will be and we will announce our decision shortly.”
We believe that PFR should listen to the community. After all, consulting is about listening and the message is very clear from all the communities. Wind turbines are not appropriate in this location and PFR should therefore concentrate their efforts on more suitable places well away from settlements.
The key facts are :-
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The proposed development would have an unacceptable substantial and significant effect upon the landscape character of the site and surrounding area which is highly valued locally for its remoteness and rural characteristics. This breaches the core strategy policies CPS3 and CP11 and saved local plan policy WLL4.
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The renewable energy benefits of the proposed development are not considered to outweigh the harm identified and the proposal would therefore be contrary to PPS22 Renewable Energy Policy and Policy NRM15of the South East Plan.
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The proposed wind turbines by virtue of their size and location, in close proximity to a number of settlements would have a significant effect on the setting and visual amenity of these settlements including private land, public vantage points, footpaths and transport routes.
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The proposal fails to demonstrate how the development will protect the separate identity of the settlements and maintain the quality of the environment and therefore conflicts with Core Strategy Policy CP11
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The renewable benefits of the proposed development are not considered to outweigh the harm identified and the proposal would therefore be contrary to PPS22 Renewable Energy and Policy NRM15 of the South East Plan.
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Having given significant weight to the renewable energy benefits of the proposal, on balance, the Borough Council determined that the wider environmental and economic benefits do not outweigh the harm identified to heritage assets (contrary to PPS5) and landscape character and visual amenity identified above.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to make their views known to councillors, WBC, and others. There was clear overwhelming objection to the application and it was incredibly important that this was demonstrated to the planning committee. HARM will continue to monitor the situation and ensure that we are ready to fight andy subsequent re-applications or appeal.
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About HARM
An organisation called 'Partnership for Renewables' has submitted planning permission for 4 wind turbines at Rushy Mead, just south of the M4 near Lower Earley. Originally this was for 6 but this got reduced to 5 with PFR claiming that 5 was the minimum for the development to be financially viable. For details of the project, as described by PFR, go to http://www.pfr.co.uk/rushymead/
HARM was set up by a concerned group of householders who believe that the development of such an enormous wind farm at Rushy Mead is inappropriate, a risk to local householders health and safety, and will cause significant loss of amenity. We are trying to ensure that all those potentially affected by such a development are informed as to the true potential risks, rather than the public relations put out by those with primarily financial interests.
The 2 images above are views prepared by us to demonstrate the effect these turbines will have on the landscape. They are to the same standard that those prepared for PFR in thei planning application but are the views that PFR declined to provide. The image on the left is from Bradmore way in lower Earley. The image on the right is from Arborfield Church towards Lower Earley. Notice the ASDA store on the right of the second image showing how the turbines will dominate the local views. The first image below is from the same viewpoint. Notice, for comparison the house in front of the turbine. These will become the major feature of the area if they are built.
We are not funded by any commercial body, are apolitical, and while we believe that renewable forms of energy are needed there is enough evidence to suggest beyond reasonable doubt that such a development should not be allowed in such close proximity to so many households.
For a leaflet summarising our concerns please click here.
Attendees at the first HARM awareness meeting in February 2010.
 
Dr. Christopher Hanning presenting on turbine noise & Professor Michael Jefferson presenting on how wind farm subsidies are causing poorly sited wind farm proposals, such as Rushy Mead.
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