RE: The refusal of the wind turbine at Poolway Farm.

The Forest Hills Alliance stance was very simple; whether any benefits of the proposal would be outweighed by any harmful impacts on the landscape, living conditions, and recreational considerations in particular.

This is probably the most definitive refusal ever issued by Paul Griffiths, Planning Inspector. It is a catalogue of reasons from items 22 to 46 that dismiss this Appeal:

In summing up, item '46' Paul Griffiths states:

• The harmful impacts of the proposal are not, and cannot be made, acceptable.

He felt that:

• The turbine is highly incongruous.

• Lacks functional logic.

• Has a detrimental impact on outlook from properties.

• Has a harmful impact on sport and recreation.

Item No 43: The council's landscape protection policy is 'wanting'.

In the light of the above comments, it is time the Forest of Dean District Council put measures in place to protect the Dean's landscape from these industrial monstrosities! Their policies are not strong enough and separation distances need to be implemented.

This refusal is a huge body blow to Resilience who no doubt will be reeling from the decision to refuse this development. Only this week it was reported nationally that 'the European Commission is to order Britain to end wind farm subsidies'.

Officials have told ministers that the current level of state support for renewable energy sources must be phased out by the end of the decade.

Taxpayer support for solar energy must also be cut, the commission will say.

The tide is turning rapidly on wind energy and the obscene subsidies that hit our back pockets and see our domestic bills soar. This was never green energy, it always greed energy – thank goodness common sense won the day.

Liz Porter

Secretary to Forest Hills Alliance