Objections to the Application
Local people are submitting substantive reasons why the two 80m turbines planning application should be refused. Here is a sample of what locals are saying. If you have not submitted your objection please do one now (deadline date 2 July). Help on this available on
Submit Your Objection.
Those that are supporting this application make mention of the need for non polluting renewable energy sources and the need to address the energy deficit that this country faces. I agree with this overall message however they do not seem to have taken into account the exact details of this application - the siting of these turbines close to a well-used bridleway, less than 600m away from people's homes, and in a unique heritage site as well as the vast economic cost of these structures. The erection of these turbines is a danger to the huge number of people and horses that use the bridleway and will also have a detrimental affect on the abundance of wildlife in this area. It will have a major impact on tourism in this area, not only due to the effect it will have on the use of the bridleway and the wildlife, but also due to the reduction in the number of people who will visit the important heritage sites located nearby. In addition, the lives and health of people in the community will be seriously harmed by the incredibly close proximity of these industrial structures due to the noise and intrusion from moving turbine blades. Lastly, this is an area of outstanding natural beauty and we should be doing all that we can to preserve it.
I hope that this application is refused and that people who support wind energy overall make time to take into consideration the facts of each case rather than blindly support without looking into the details.
I live at Morville and wish to strongly object to the proposed wind turbines at Upton Cressett.
Firstly, Upton Cressett is a unique heritage site and the proximity of these industrial structures will blight all these precious historical assets.
Secondly, the turbines will be located too close to Shropshires premier bridleway, the Jack Mytton Way, making it unuseable because of the danger to horses.
Thirdly, the lives of people in our community, especially those in Underton, Meadowley and Upton Cressett, will be harmed because of background noise and intrusion from moving turbine blades.
Finally, the landscape of our beautiful community will be severely compromised with consequent adverse effects on tourism which is vital for our area. I am in favour of renewable energy proposals but these industrial turbines are located completely in the wrong place as correctly stated by Philip Dunne, our MP.
I am contacting you with regard to the planning application for the erection of two wind turbines along the Jack Mytton bridleway route. The BHS recommend that turbines should be at least four times their height away from bridleways, therefore the proposed distance of 150-180m from the bridleway is totally unacceptable, as is a diversion to a permission route, this could be withdrawn at anytime!
The Jack Mytton Way is a long established well used route and as usual it is the large well funded energy companies riding gunshot over the top everyone to get what they want! come on, some sort of sensible compromise can be achieved, move the turbines further away from the bridleway route, leave the route as it is, everyone's a winner!
Although there is no doubt that schemes such as this are a good thing both environmentally and and for the community, this is not the right location in this instance.
The Jack Mytton Way is an important contributor to tourism in this area and the cost saving on energy could be far outweighed by the cost of an accident involving horse riders should it happen.
Horses are flight animals and if they feel in danger the best rider in the world would not be able to stop them bolting. A fall from an animal at speed can result in very serious injury to horse, rider or both. This is not only a cost to the rider in injury, but also a not inconsiderable cost to a very stretched NHS.
Bridleways are there to allow safe off road riding and if the advice of the BHS of the siting of wind turbines, which has been issued following extensive research, is ignored there would be an accident waiting to happen.
And let us not forget, bridleways are used not only by adult riders but children as well.
A very good idea but totally the wrong location. Please refuse this application.
I wish to strongly oppose this planning application as it does not comply with either Policy D11, Bridgnorth Local Plan or with Policy MD8, Shropshire Council Infrastructure Provision/ Policy on Wind Farms.
Agreement for two industrial sized 80m wind turbines at Upton Cressett will have a devastating impact on the landscape; they will have a damaging effect on heritage assets; they will deter tourism from several sites including Shropshire?s premier bridleway, the Jack Mytton Way and they will cause harm to people and cause blight to residential amenity for people living in the area near the turbines.
Our area of South Shropshire is particularly recognised for its heritage attractions and landscapes of natural beauty and this is what makes it so attractive for tourism and visitors.
The site at Upton Cressett with its Hall, Gatehouse, medieval Church and ancient village site and fishponds is rightly recognised as one of the top heritage sites in Shropshire and indeed England. No other site in Shropshire has such a rich portfolio and range of Grade I buildings making it a unique visitor experience.The turbines will ruin the approach to Upton Cressett and also have a detrimental effect on the views from the historic site. Further important sites in the area will also be compromised , particularly the approaches to the Grade I listed Morville Hall and St Gregory's church at Morville.
The turbines would dominate our landscape, seriously affecting the villages of Underton, Upton Cressett, Criddon, Chetton, the Lye, Cross House, Meadowley and Morville Heath; they would be visible from as far away as Wolverhampton. The eastern slope of the Brown Clee forms an important landmark at the entry to the Shropshire Hills enjoyed by visitors and this needs to be cherished and maintained.
The Jack Mytton Way, Shropshire's premier tourist trail for walkers, riders and cyclists will also be compromised. The British Horse Society recommends that wind turbines of this size should be located 320m from the bridleway to avoid risks to riders; these turbines are an unacceptable 120-150m distance from the turbines.
The wind turbines would be located less than 1km from people?s homes in Meadowley and Underton giving a noise nuisance which can affect health and residential amenity. The prevailing wind direction is from the west which means that the whole of the residents of Underton will be particularly affected.
In summary the negative consequences of this proposal far exceed any benefits to our community. The only people who will benefit will be the landowner and the investors; profit is the only reason they are putting it forward.
Finally, if Shropshire Council wants to further develop our area for tourism based on its heritage and natural beauty, it will be a disaster to allow this application to proceed.
I am writing to oppose this forthcoming application for two reasons.
I live within a mile of the site & am worried that the noise & flicker will disturb me & visitors to my property.
I am also a keen horse-rider who regularly rides both the bridleways which will be adversely affected if these two wind turbines are constructed. One is Shropshire's flagship long-distance bridleway, the Jack Mytton Way, and the other a linking local bridleway leading to West Farm, Underton.
At initial local consultations, Sharenergy, the joint proposers, falsely claimed that the proposed location was in line with British Horse Society recommendations; it is not. BHS safety recommendations are that a separation distance of four times the overall height should be the target for National Trails and Ride UK routes. The Jack Mytton Way is such a trail, and is therefore likely to be used by tourist equestrians unfamiliar with turbines and who are strangers to the locality and unaware of the danger.
We understand that Sharenergy are proposing turbines with a height from the ground to the tip of blade of approximately 80m which would require a minimum distance of 320 metres from the JMW to meet BHS safety guidance and not the 150 ? 180 metres as in the current plan.
The proposed turbines seriously threaten horse and rider security. Horses are instinctively animals of flight and research and policy development carried out by the BHS refers to the dangers to horseriders from the following wind turbine hazards (Mark Weston BHS 2008): moving blade shadows blades starting to turn noise levels (indicative levels should be detailed), ice falling off blades (mechanisms to stop turbines automatically when iced are required and distance of ice scatter trajectory when blades are restarted)
structural failures (as recently occurred near Shrewsbury), HGV impact on trails during construction and maintenance.
Riding south-east along the JMW will particularly expose riders to dangerous flickering sunlight in the early to mid-morning from this proposed location, as well as to the other hazards listed above.
Frightened horses can lead riders to lose control, be unseated & cause serious falls, sometimes raising complex liability issues. The JMW is Shropshire's flagship long distance bridleway and it would be a tragedy to make it dangerous for tourists & locals to ride along it, when a serious or even fatal accident could result.
