Petsoe wind farm decision

11.28.00pm GMT Wed 9th Jan 2008

Not wanted at Petsoe Manor

Just one day after the Council's Development Control Committee had voted 6-5 in favour of granting permission for a wind farm at Petsoe, the decision was put on hold after it was discovered that there was a rarely-used rule in the council's constitution that allowed decisions of the Development Control Committee to be referred back to the full council if it could be shown that there was a flaw in the decision-making process.

To this end, a group of councillors representing the rural areas of the borough (including Sam Potts) signed a motion to request that the council rescind the decision of 17th. December and refer the matter back to the committee for further consideration.

The rescinding motion was considered at the full council meeting held on Tuesday 8 January 2008. The motion was moved and seconded by the two Olney ward Councillors. When put to the vote, the council rejected the motion by 25 votes to 22 and so the planning permission granted on 17 December stands.

It seems inevitable now that those who fought so hard against the wind farm application will launch a judicial review of the way that the council handled the planning process.