Tycoon fighting to rescue home turbine project (From Wharfedale Observer)
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Tycoon fighting to rescue home turbine project
10:00am Sunday 9th September 2012 in Local news
Lawrence Tomlinson, who is fighting to keep his wind turbine in place
Sports car technology is being used by an Otley business tycoon in his fight to keep a wind turbine on his land.
Lawrence Tomlinson, who owns Ginetta, is using cladding material more commonly found in his cars in an attempt to dull the turbine’s noise.
The multi-millionaire boss of the Leeds-based LNT Group built an 18-metre wind turbine outside his home after receiving planning permission from Harrogate Borough Council in 2008.
But he has been ordered to take it down amid claims it is 2.8 metres away from where it should have been. The council has also served a noise abatement notice.
The tycoon, who is understood to have stopped the turbine for two years while he sought to resolve the issue with experts, is now using his own company’s technology to tackle the problem.
The council served an enforcement notice on Mr Tomlinson last year, ordering him to take the turbine down.
He has appealed against the notice and will take his case to a public enquiry in Harrogate later this month.
The enforcement notice said: “The turbine is considered to have a significant impact upon the amenities of those occupying nearby residential accommodation by reason of noise.”
The entrepreneur has made his fortune with business interests ranging from care home to construction, and is listed as one of the richest men in the UK.
