Anger at turbine plan for eco home
3:10pm Wednesday 10th March 2010 in Your Town
RESIDENTS complained about proposals for a wind turbine near footballer Gary Neville’s planned “Teletubby” home at a packed meeting last night.
About 250 people turned up at Harwood Methodist Church in Tottington Road to put forward their concerns.
The Manchester United player wants to build a state-of-the-art house on greenbelt land next to his current home in Harwood.
But it has been met with fierce opposition from residents who want to protect the countryside and are worried about noise from the turbine.
The eco home, which would be Bolton’s first carbon-zero house, was likened to the home of children’s television characters the Teletubbies. The flower-shaped design will cover an 8,000 sq ft plot.
Affetside resident Rona Birch said: “Why do we have to have this dirty great big house because he has lots of money? This could mean there will be future Teletubby houses.”
Joe Driscoll told the meeting: “You have to be really special to get through the new law – it is to replace disintegrating stately homes.
“This is not a stately home, it is one man’s whim that affects everyone in the village. This application is on greenbelt and it is inappropriate.”
Bradshaw councillor Paul Brierly, who chaired the meeting, said that to put the size into context, the turbine was nearly as big as Bolton Town Hall.
Concerns were raised about the noise it would make and Paul Butler, representing Mr Neville, said he did not think noise would be a problem, but a further noise survey was being carried out.
He added: “It is a key part of the application that this is no ordinary house in the greenbelt.
“Development in rural areas has to be of exceptional design and innovative. I am sure many would agree it is that.
“As a professional planner, I would not take on a scheme unless it was worthwhile.”
The plans are due to go before Bolton Council’s planning committee on April 1.
amanda.smith@ theboltonnews.co.uk
