Planning Application for a Wind Farm on Land to the South of Poplar Farm, Puriton Road, West Huntspill (Black Ditch) – Ecotricity Proposal (Planning Ref: 52/10/00018)
Proposal: A wind energy development comprising the erection of four wind turbines, each with a maximum overall height of up to 120m together with access tracks, hard standing areas, information board, electricity sub-station, temporary construction compound and amended vehicular access.
Location: Land to the south of, Poplar Farm, Puriton Road, West Huntspill, Highbridge
I am writing to inform you that a public meeting to discuss the above planning application has been arranged for Thursday 16 February 2012 at Balliol Hall in West Huntspill. The meeting will commence promptly at 6pm.
A short presentation will be given by the council’s planning team to explain the proposal. The main purpose of the meeting is to give local residents and other interested parties the opportunity to question both the developers and the council’s planning team. Due to the complex and technical nature of this application questions will need to be submitted in advance of the meeting. If you have a question(s), please can you submit them in writing no later than the end of January 2012.
Members of the council’s Development Committee will also be attendance but please note that they will be attending to observe only and will not be taking part in the debate or answering any questions. The planning application will be determined at a formal meeting of the Development Committee in due course following the public meeting. A date for that meeting has not yet been finalised.
Please can you send questions by email to development.management@sedgemoor.gov.uk marking it for the attention of the case officer Chris Gomm. Alternatively please write to us at the above address also marking your letter for the attention of Chris Gomm. Please quote reference number 52/10/00018 in any correspondence.
You can view planning applications online at the Sedgemoor District Council web site by clicking on
Sedgemoor Planning Applications then just follow the online instructions.
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Applications for Planning Permission
Planning permission can only be granted by the planning department of Sedgemoor District Council and all planning applications must be submitted to them.
Applications will sometimes be dealt with by the planning committee but can be dealt with by a planning officer under delegated powers. An application, and any objections thereto, will be considered only in respect of planning regulations. If you want to know if you need planning permission for an alteration or extension or for an outbuilding etc., you can find it in an excellent interactive guide on the government's planning portal at www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/hhg/houseguide.html. When you get to the page click either "Skip Intro" or "Launch the Guide".
However, if the planning committee or planning officer feel that there are other issues to be taken into account such as building, water or highways regulations, these may referred to the relevant department or authority. As a result of this, even if an application is given permission, it may be subject to conditions laid down under these other regulations.
Persons who may be affected by a development have the right to object but only on grounds of planning regulations, although they may raise issues covered by building, water, highway or other regulations so that the relevant departments or authorities can be made aware. Objections to planning applications need to be made in writing to the relevant planning officer by the advertised deadline.
Members of the public can view planning applications at the offices of Sedgemoor District Council in in King's Square, Bridgwater. Planning applications can also be viewed online at the District Council's planning portal which can be reached by using the link at the top of this page.
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Role of the Parish Council in Planning Applications
All applications for planning permission are notified to the Parish Council and will be dealt with at a meeting of the council's planning committee. Prior to this meeting a parish councillor will have inspected the planning application documents, visited the site of the proposed development and, where posible, spoken with nearby affected residents to identify any problems or issues arising.
Residents of the parish are allowed to attend a planning meeting and address the committee prior to its commencement, but once the meeting has started they may not speak or otherwise take part.
The planning committee meeting will take into account the report from the councillor concerned and will note any objections raised by residents. The committee will then vote on whether to recommend that permission be granted or refused. This recommendation will be based on whether or not it is felt that the proposed development complies with current planning regulations and associated policies. If recommending approval, the Parish Council may also suggest conditions that should be attached concerning, for example, issues involving building or highway regulations etc. The council may also recommend that the application be dealt with by full planning committee rather than by a planning officer under delegated powers.
It must be noted that the Parish Council does NOT have the power to grant or refuse planning permission.
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Government Planning Portal
If you are planning changes to your property and are not sure whether or not you need planning permission, you can find out by using the interactive guide on planning regulations on the government planning portal. To use this just click here.
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