South Holland wind turbine ‘would have interfered with MoD radar’

Planning councillors turned down a proposal for a 78m high wind turbine after hearing that it could interfere with a Ministry of Defence radar.

The structure was due to be on land associated with Fendyke Farm, at Inley Drove in Sutton St James.

There were objections from South Holland and the Deepings MP John Hayes, Lincolnshire county councillor William Webb and 113 submissions from the public.

South Holland District Council planning officers advised members at last Wednesday’s meeting to refuse the application on the grounds that the proposed route for deliveries to the site was unsuitable and the turbine would “unacceptably interfere with the operation of the air traffic control radar at RAF Waddington, to the detriment of national defence.”

Public speaker Paul Hinks told the meeting: “The officers’ report gives a fair summary of the residents’ objections.”

In moving the officers’ recommendation, ward member Coun Michael Seymour added: “The roads are not suitable – they’re basically sprayed tar over gravel.
“And as for what the MoD says, who would want to go against that when we have conflicts all over the world?”