12:20pm Thursday 28th August 2008
By James Wilson
A PUBLIC inquiry into a proposed wind farm at Aston Grange has heard the noise of the turbines will be masked by the sound of traffic on the M56.
Developers Tegni Cymru, with help from German-based firm Germania Windpark, want to build four 410ft wind turbines on land near Aston Grange.
The plans were rejected by Vale Royal Borough Council last year, but the developers appealed.
The inquiry, at the Forest Hills Hotel, Frodsham, started on Monday, August 19, and was scheduled to finish today, Wednesday.
During Friday’s hearing Dr Andrew McKenzie, an expert in acoustics, who has given evidence at 26-wind farm planning inquiries, said that he believed that the noise from the turbines would be drowned out by the sound of the traffic on the M56 and the A533.
The hearing heard that there are 255 properties within a 2km circle of the wind farm.
Alan Gent, of Lodge Lane, asked Dr McKenzie if he would be able to hear the turbines from his home.
Dr McKenzie said: “When the wind is in a south westerly direction you will be able to hear the turbines. But it concerns me when I hear turbines are noisy.”
Geoffrey Sinclair, on behalf of action group Stop Aston Windfarm (SAW) said the noise from the turbines would disturb residents’ enjoyment of the Weaver Valley Regional Park.
He added that the eight-mile Aston Ring bridleway would be under threat from the noise as the horses would be disturbed, a claim that Tegni denied.
Later on today, Wednesday, the final speeches will be heard from both sides and a decision by planning inspector Andrew Pykett is due to be heard in October.
What do you think about the plans for a wind farm in Aston? Let us know at northwichguardian.co.uk
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