Wind turbines set for college campus

?A scheme for two 413ft high wind turbines at South Staffordshire College's Rodbaston campus has been given the go ahead by a planning inspector.

The college appealed after South Staffordshire District Council turned down the planning application in April for the green belt site.

Penkridge resident Bevan Craddock, who objected to the scheme, said the turbines would be built on the Rodbaston estate very close to the M6 Motorway, the canal, and within 1km of the ancient heronry at Gailey and 1km of the local microlight airstrip at Pillaton.

Mr Craddock said the would also be within 1km of the housing estates to the south end of Penkridge and could de-value local property. He said that a new road would have to be built on agricultural land to access the site.

"Although the officers of the council recommended approval, the councillors of the planning authority listened to local people and turned the application down," he added.

One councillor claimed that the turbines would look like a pair of "Blackpool Towers."

They will be used to generate electricity for the site, with any extra being sold back to the National Grid.

In November it was revealed that the college received the green light for a £2.8 million redevelopment of the Rodbaston Campus. Some of the buildings at the site, near Penkridge, which date back to the 19th century, will be demolished under the plans which were unanimously approved by South Staffordshire Council's regulatory committee.

Six new classrooms will be created under the plan, as well as a kitchen, meeting room, offices, careers and counselling areas and conference facilities.

Among the areas earmarked for demolition to make way for the two-storey learning hub are storage sheds, a water tower, temporary classrooms, a refectory and diesel tanks. The campus, which was formerly an agricultural college, will be the only one of its kind delivering land-based environmental and sustainable training for industry, according to a South Staffordshire Council report.

The report also stated that the campus has suffered several years of decline.

Grounds and parkland will also be restored to attract new visitors and some of the building work will be funded by a £1 million grant from the Skills Funding Agency as well as refurbishment of the hall.

No increase in staff or student numbers is expected.

Nobody from the college was available for comment about the new wind turbines at the time of going to press.