I completely agree that if this scheme were to go ahead our town would be blighted by the dominating presence of this huge industrial complex. It would destroy the long established market town character of Sleaford for ever. It is that character which is so much appreciated by the many people who live and work here.
It is important to note that the 120 plus businesses objecting to this proposal provide over 1000 local jobs; their comments are hugely important as they form a main plank of our local economy.
The location of the site is clearly the problem, due to its conspicuous position, close to the town on attractive open countryside. It will become a landmark which will always be associated with the town, in the same way as the power stations at Long Sutton and Spalding.
Sleaford needs tourist visitors but an approach dominated by such a blot on our rural landscape is more likely to persuade the traveller to continue on their way. It will project a very poor image and, consequently, I feel will result in a loss to any trading potential that could result from visitors' spending power.
The applicant's token revisions to the originally refused scheme are really very insignificant when considering the overall scale of the complex. Originally the buildings had curved roofs, with the average height of 30.8m and 15.75m. These have now been replaced with flat roofs of 29.2m and 15.3m, minimal reductions of 5.3 per cent and 3 per cent.
This will make very little difference to the overall visual impact of these buildings, which will still be three times the height to eves of a typical family house and the boiler house will be as high as an 11 storey block of flats.
The conclusions of North Kesteven District Council's planning committee at the previous refusal were that the effects of the visual intrusion of this project on the local environment outweighed any of the benefits the plant would bring to the area. That situation has not changed.
R J HUNT
Milton Way, Kirkby La Thorpe