Green light for wind turbine plan (From Gazette & Herald)

Green light for wind turbine plan

A CONTROVERSIAL domestic wind turbine in a Ryedale village will be put to use after a lengthy planning wrangle.

Keith Dowell won the right to build the turbine at his home, Pasture House in Normanby, on appeal, after neighbours objected with fears about noise and disturbance.

But Mr Dowell was forced to apply for separate consent to add the concrete winching point for the turbine because it will be built within the village's flood bank.

Objectors went to Ryedale MP John Greenway, who raised concerns about wind turbines in parliament, but the Environment Agency, responsible for the flood defences, had no problems with the plans.

Head of building control at Ryedale District Council, Gary Housden, said: "On both of the applications, obviously the first consultation was with the Environment Agency, as it owns the flood defences. It never raised any objections."

He added that it would be "nonsensical" for the Environment Agency to approve anything which would threaten its own flood defences.

Plans to convert farm buildings into a holiday cottage complex in Slingsby have been given a green light - despite concerns from neighbours.

Conditional approval was given to the work at Manor Farm, South Holme, by Ryedale District Council's Planning Committee.

The project would create a four-bedroom house for the owners, along with four holiday cottages and three letting rooms.

But Mr and Mrs Dean, who live at Holme Farm near the site, wrote to the council to say they were concerned that access to the site was by one badly-maintained lane.

They feared increase traffic would affect the safety of the lane, popular with walkers. Mr Dean wrote: "The property at Manor Farm should not be allowed to fall into ruin but some part should be developed for low cost housing in order that local people can remain in the area.

"Development of these buildings should not be for those people who do not contribute to the local environment or who wish solely to make a hug profit at the cost of local residents."

They also pointed out that farm smells are a regular feature of the area.

However, planning officer Stephen Seager said the application was sympathetic to the buildings' original character and in keeping with the Ryedale local plan.

Planners gave the green light to the demolition of a range of outbuildings on land adjacent to Manor Farm on Wombleton High Street.

Plans to convert listed agricultural buildings into two three-bedroom houses at Settrington Grange were given conditional approval.

An application to erect a two-storey extension and garden room at York Cottage, Main Street, Amotherby, was refused.

Conditional approval was given to the building of a detached garage at 8 Langton Road, Norton.

Updated: 11:28 Wednesday, March 22, 2006