NEW VISION: An artists impression of what a purpose-built Customer Contact Centre at the Riverside complex in Lowestoft could look like, if the scheme is given approval. PICTURE: Supplied.
Solar farm bid rejected for Ellough as Lowestoft customer centre approved
Anthony Carroll
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
10:03 PM
An energy scheme to build a large solar farm in north Suffolk was thrown out by councillors tonight after fears were raised the project would ruin the look of the picturesque river valley landscape.
The plan by Lark Energy to install 101,640 photovoltaic panels to generate up to 30MW of power at land at Ellough, near Beccles, was rejected by Waveney District Council’s development control committee.
The pals was being discussed again after the committee had previously asked Lark Energy if it would scale back the solar farm near Ellough Airfield by about 50pc so it would not impact on the look of the area which is on the Hundred River Valley.
Lark Energy did not agree with that request, but did say it would reduce the height of the panels by 1m down to 2m and plant more hedging to screen the scheme.
Despite planning officers recommending the plans be approved, the committee voted against it on the grounds on the “adverse impact” it would have on the landscape.
A water company has been given the green light tonight to build a customer contact centre in Lowestoft which could create more than 70 jobs.
Essex and Suffolk Water, which provides water for the Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth areas, was granted permission by Waveney District Council’s development control committee to build the centre at land off Waveney Drive.
The company’s current contact centre is in Lowestoft’s Rectory Road based in a former convent.
It has 172 staff working there and the move could see numbers of people employed by Essex and Suffolk Water rise to 250 at the new centre, which will be constructed on land close to Lake Lothing which had been earmarked for the ill-fated £53m Waveney Campus Project.
Essex and Suffolk Water says the two storey building is necessary as its current base is cramped and no longer considered conducive for an efficient and modern customer centre.
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9 comments
Brilliant, so you can builda call centre on an area liable to flood, but you can't put solar panels on an old disused airfield. Are'nt our planners brilliant!
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ITSTEAPOT
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
If we are that desperate for electricity why not get that useless contraption Gulliver to go round once or twice a week?.With all the grands and hadouts the wind companies get surely they should have a few quid to sort out this statue.
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kevin bacon
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
PALS = Power and light services It's funny as I have never seen Ellough as being an area of outstanding natural beauty. What exactly is there to spoil if this project went ahead? A disused airfield and an industrial estate, sounds perfect for this type of project to me!
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gaz
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Thoreauwasright - "pals" is your invitation to play "guess the missing word". Is the EDP using some sort of "talk-type" technology? In another article today, spot the mysterious error in this "Since 1967, the charity, which has an offer has provided disabled people with services such as days out," was it some blinkin' Londoner can't say "as" without hadding a "haitch" guv?
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Mr Cameron Isaliar
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Two good results for the Waveney district, jobs for Lowestoft in the new call centre and rejecting the massive solar farm which would create few if any local jobs, and could restrict activities on the airfield. Stick to offshore windfarms to generate power, the Gabbard and Galloper have alrerady created many jobs in Lowestoft, with more to come.
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Port Watcher
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Forgive my ignorance but what does 'The pals was being discussed again' - (paragraph 3) mean?
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Thoreauwasright
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
New customer care centre will be perfectly placed to make use of the third crossing over Lake Lothing. Oh yes, i remember, it will never happen. yet more traffic for the snarled up town centre then.
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DaveG
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
blocked from commenting once more, what a bore...
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Mr Cameron Isaliar
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
So we all need energy, but no one is prepared to have it anywhere near them?
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Johhny Reggae
Tuesday, February 12, 2013