Controversial plans for a wind farm on the outskirts of Burnham-On-Sea have been deemed “invalid” by district planners.
In a surprise twist on Friday, March 31st, Sedgemoor District Council spokeswoman Claire Faun said the application had been labelled “invalid” because inadequate information about access to the site had been given by Ecotricity, the company behind the scheme.
In a statement, she told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The application is a very large box full of documentation. This was in the process of being checked to ensure that all the correct documentation had been received, but the application is technically invalid as we are waiting for further details on the access from the applicant/agent. It cannot be registered until they submit these details.”
“Once this additional information is received, the application will be registered and the consultations will be sent out. Sedgemoor District Council will then have 16 weeks to determine the application from the date it is registered.”
Responding to news, Burnham and Highbridge town council leader Peter Clayton said the news was a temporary setback for Ecotricity.
He said: “It does not fill me with confidence if Ecotricity are finding it difficult to complete the application forms to the required standard. I appreciate the technology is somewhat complex, but you would have thought they would have taken access routes into consideration.”
“Clearly, if there was a problem with these turbines, it would be very important to have good access routes for emergency vehicles. It would seem the thought had not crossed their minds.”
“This application must now be checked very thoroughly and all the facts and figures must be double checked. My initial feeling is that these turbines should be sited in an area much further away from residential properties and this latest episode has done nothing to change my mind.”
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