Wind farm saga hits new twist and delay

Planning officials have suspended a proposal to build a wind farm between two Lincolnshire villages.

Enertrag UK has been asked to provide more information about its plans for eight 125-metre turbines at Baumber and Wispington, near Horncastle.

East Lindsey District Council will allow the application to continue through the planning process if the energy company can show how its project will affect nearby residents.

The Echo understands this includes an assessment of what impact the turbines could have on house prices plus wind speed results recorded in the area.

East Lindsey District Council spokesman James Gilbert said: "The council has suspended the processing of the Baumber wind farm planning application because it wants more information on a number of issues to assess the impact the development would have on the area.

"Once this is received it can continue through the planning process."

Enertrag UK project developer David Linley said a response to the district council's letter had been sent and he was unconcerned by the delay.

"Probably 80 per cent of what was asked for by the council are not material considerations in the planning process," he said.

"I suppose it's a ploy to delay things. It does not worry us and we have given them all the information required."

Mr Linley said the company had been told to expect a decision from the authority by Friday, November 6.

The council received more than 700 letters against the proposal during the consultation period and Baumber Wind Farm Action Group chairman Melvin Grosvenor said the group wanted an open and honest application.