Pendle councillors have deferred a decision over a Bracewell wind turbine application to their next meeting at the end of the month.
Members of the West Craven Committee agreed they needed more information about possible flicker from the blades before they could make their minds up.
Farmer Michael Ashby from Yarlside wants to install a 19.8 metre wind turbine on his land, but residents at nearby Horton Lodge say it will have an adverse impact on their lives, as well as on motorists on the A59 and local wildlife. Permission was granted for a turbine to be sited at a different site at the farm last year, further away from Horton Lodge. Planning manager Neil Watson said reasons for a new application closer to residents’ homes were irrelevant to the discussion.
Coun. David Whipp said a site visit had shown a low winter sun shining from the site of the turbine on the top of a hill down to the residents’ homes at Horton Lodge could potentially produce very long shadows and a flicker effect.
Residents at the meeting gave heartfelt representations to councillors on their fears over the plans. Ann Knowles Foster said: “From where I stand at Horton Lodge the wind turbine would be prominent on the landscape and visible from all but one of our windows. Is that fair or equitable?”
Mr Watson said there was very clear national guidance about meeting renewable energy targets and a substantial reason would have to be found to warrant a refusal being given.
He said his department would request more information on the flicker issue, though the application had already passed two tests where calculations are used to judge if there would be flicker.