by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter.
A new wind turbine, almost twice the size of an existing one, has been approved for a site just off the A35 at Rogers Hill Farm near Bere Regis.
A voluntary share of income from the site has supported community projects through Bere Regis parish council over a number of years.
The new machine, at 250metres maximum height, will be able to produce enough power for around 1,300 homes – an increase from 800mwh produced each year to 6,000mwh. It will be similar in size to those in use at East Stoke and will rotate at a slower speed than the existing turbine.
The Bere Regis existing site will be moved by 250metres to a lower position to get it further away from the likely flight path of bats which hunt in the area along nearby hedgerows.
Grid connection and parts of the existing site access from Roke Road would be reused.
The current turbine can be clearly seen from the A35 and surrounding areas and is 1.5km from the edge of Bere Regis, 2.5km from Tolpuddle and 2.5km from Milborne St Andrew.
A report to councillors were told that the size of the proposed turbine would have ‘moderate adverse effects” on the landscape, although planning officers decided the ‘harm’ was outweighed by the benefits.
Along with the application comes a promise of further community funding for Bere Regis parish council and £1200,000 for “landscape enhancement” in the area, mainly for planting projects within 10km of the site.
Support for the larger turbine came from parish councils nearest to the site and from the Dorset Council Economic Development and Tourism Team, which told councillors deciding the application: “From an economic development perspective, the arguments in favour of this application are strong and clear. It will provide jobs in its design, construction and maintenance, it will provide electricity that everyone needs to live, work, and learn, and increasingly to power our transport and heating as we move to a lower Carbon economy.
“Onshore wind turbines are probably one of the most cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally friendly ways of generating electricity. In the public interest.”
Fourteen public comments have been received by the council about the proposal – raising concerns about the harm to the landscape, the ‘excessive increase’ in size from existing, impacts on ecology and potential noise.
Supporters made reference to the benefits of green energy and the fact that the area is used to having a turbine in the area which many people now see as positive.
Objectors spoke of the larger turbine ‘industrialising’ the countryside and being detrimental to the county’s tourism economy. One also raised concerns that turbines might cause ill-health in people through the low-frequency vibrations and that animals, even worms, tended to keep away from turbine sites.
Bournemouth Airport had originally raised an objection, but later dropped it after receiving additional information that the larger turbine would not interfere with its new radar system.
Corfe Mullen Cllr Duncan Sowry-House, who was brought up in Bere Regis, said turbines were in many areas seen as a benefit and, unlikely to impact on tourism – the machine being less noisy than motorcycles which occasionally raced around the Roger Hill track.
“I am very happy to propose that this be granted … the established principle of development is already there,” he said, adding that the turbine was in line with the council’s climate change policies and helped to contribute to Dorset’s need to generate its own electricity.
Purbeck councillor Bery Ezzard said the four turbines at Masters Pit on the edge of her ward had received nothing but positive comments since they started operations. She expected the Bere Regis turbine to meet with the same reaction.
The larger turbine was approved on a 4-2 vote with one abstention.
