By Dave Gudgeon

Last updated at 10:44, Saturday, 15 March 2008

A PLANNING inquiry into a windfarm planned for the Eden Valley ended yesterday.

It will determine whether a three-turbine development at Hoff Moor, near Appleby, can go ahead after all.

The government planning inspector reserved his decision in the case but it is expected to be made public in about two months.

Members of Eden Council’s planning committee went against the recommendations of their own officers last year when they turned down the scheme.

The turbines, 95m high to the tip of the blades, could have supplied power to more than 2,000 households for the next 25 years.

But councillors voted 13-0 against the plans after hearing from three local objectors – an outcome that prompted loud applause within the meeting at Penrith Town Hall.

Bill Thwaytes, who lives at Maulds Meaburn, argued then that allowing the development would set a precedent and produce a domino effect in the Eden Valley.

Geoff Lightburn, a local parish councillor, said the proposed site was a very poor one. It would only provide an intermittent supply of energy but have a disastrous visual impact on the Eden landscape.

Supporters, who wrote letters to the council, maintained that wind turbines were a beautiful addition to the landscape and that the biggest threat to landscape was climate change.

They argued that wind energy was cost effective, clean and sustainable, visually uplifting, quiet and efficient.

Small schemes, such as that proposed for Hoff Moor, would make an invaluable contribution to the county’s renewable energy capacity, they said.

First published at 09:14, Saturday, 15 March 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk