Residents to have their say on West Ancroft wind farm proposal
A public exhibition of wind farm plans is being held at Ancroft on Wednesday and Thursday of next week, but local residents have already had their hackles raised by the developers.
Residents close to the proposed site at West Ancroft had been sent out information on behalf of the developers E.ON, but others were missed off the list.
Ian Corsie and his wife live within 700 yards of one of the proposed turbine locations, and he told the Advertiser: “What E.ON have done is make a lot of the mistakes that Your Energy did with Moorsyde.
“A letter was sent out to a very few people using the E.ON logo, but with no address, and just a few got it and many didn’t, so a neighbour and I put together some of the information onto one piece of paper and distributed copies to 170 dwellings within two miles of the proposed windfarm.”
Mr Corsie added: “The thing that gets me most of all is the sheer bad manners of it all.
“It is perfectly clear that they talk about public consultation but have no interest at all. The public consultation is just a box-ticking exercise.
“It is going to be very much up to us as the local people to do something about it, and we may be having a public meeting in Ancroft Memorial Hall on Thursday, November 27, but that is still to be confirmed. We need to get people together to find out what they think about it.
“We have to fight it. If this goes ahead we will be living in a whirling landscape.”
The exhibition will give local residents the opportunity to voice their opinions about the plans for a windfarm at West Ancroft and also ask the E.ON team any questions.
Charles Rattan, project developer for E.ON Climate and Renewables, said: “I’d urge anybody living within the local community or anyone who is interested in the development, to come along to one of the events and to see what our plans are.
“We want to ensure that the local community is kept up-to-date with our plans, which is why we are holding these events. We’ll also make sure that local stakeholders are kept informed at all stages.”
Mr Corsie said: “For us we enjoy the most glorious view out to the Cheviots, but there are going to be seven turbines in a 30 degree arc in front of us, all within one mile of us and up to 410 feet high.
“There are three things that absolutely horrify us. First is the visual aspect, but if we felt that we were doing our bit for saving the planet then we might just have to lump it, but it is just a sticking plaster so the Government can be seen to be doing something.
“We are also particularly worried about the noise of so many turbines in such a quiet area, and shadow flicker is the third thing.”
Mr Corsie is in the process of gathering a group of like-minded residents together and had approached E.ON about having a stall at the exhibition to gather the views of those who attend. This was turned down by E.On.
Mr Rattan said this request was refused because it is an E.ON exhibition and that there are strict rules on public consultation exhibitions. He also added that he has accepted an invitation to speak directly to Mr Corsie, and also reiterated that the public exhibition is open to all interested parties.
The proposed eight turbine windfarm at West Ancroft, which is currently still at the ’scoping’ stage, could generate around 18MW of energy, providing enough renewable power for around 10,200 homes according to E.ON.
The exhibitions run between 1pm and 6pm on Wednesday, November 19, and Thursday, November 20 at Ancroft Memorial Hall.
By Adam Drummond
12 November 2008
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
Some possibly related stories:
- Residents organise public meeting in response to wind farm proposal
- 'Don't forget West Ancroft turbine plan' pleads campaigner; Public consultation coincides with three-pronged public inquiry in Berwick
- Campaigners claim majority are opposed to wind farm proposal
- Outrage at rural vista of turbines
- Wind farm power firm in investigation over turbine position
- Residents form wind farm action group; West Ancroft Community Action set up
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