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Allerdale Borough Council forced to apologise over turbine planning objections

A turbine on an onshore wind farm Credit: PA

Allerdale Borough Council is to apologise to residents in Oughterside near Aspatria after ignoring their objections and then granting planning permission for a wind turbine near their homes.

A group of them complained to the local government ombudsman, and it ruled in their favour saying the council was at fault over the planning process. Despite this, the turbine will remain.

The local government ombudsman decided that Allerdale Borough Council had ignored local people's objections to the turbine, and the watchdog has now ordered Allerdale to apologise and review the way it operates planning consent.

We fully accept the decision of the Ombudsman and have already made all necessary changes to policy, procedures and training to ensure that similar issues cannot happen again. An apology will be read out at the Development Panel in due course and letters sent out to those members of the public who have been in contact with us about this matter.

– Allerdale Borough Council Spokesperson