Villagers say no to wind farms
Villagers have formally adopted their strategy to fight plans for up to three wind farms near their homes.
Sadberge Parish Plan group’s wind farm addendum to its village blueprint has been passed by the parish council.
The extra chapter of the plan was drafted earlier this year in response to a series of turbine developments.
Villagers have also voted three-to-one against wind farms in the neighbouring countryside.
The parish plan, which helps to oversee future planning developments in Sadberge, objects to any planning applications for wind farms near the village.
It has demanded no wind turbine be built within 1km of any house, and none within 1.5km of settlements of ten or more homes.
The group also wants any development to be restricted to “least impact” areas as identified by the North-East Regional Assembly and any wind farms to be at least 5km apart.
It will also support campaign group Seven Parishes Against Local Wind Farms.
The extension of the plan was agreed by the parish council on Tuesday.
The parish council hopes to speak with Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson, whose constituency covers the area where the wind farms are planned.
Councillors have invited him to their meeting in January.
A group also visited another turbine site near the A689, between Sedgefield and Teesside.
When asked if the visit changed his opinion of the turbines, Councillor Rennie Vickers said: “Not very much. They just seemed very efficient.”
Alastair Mackenzie, clerk to both the parish council and parish plan, said: “One thing that became clear to me is that the footprint is much smaller than you think.”
There are two sites within sight of Sadberge where wind turbines are planned, totalling up to 22 turbines. A third application has been made nearer Sedgefield.
Villagers have complained on a number of issues and have erected hundreds of banners fighting the applications.
Banks Developments, who are behind one of the schemes, have had an application for a wind monitoring mast approved.
A spokesman for the firm said it would monitor wind speeds in the area for more than two years, before the exact siting of potential turbines are chosen.
Darlington Borough Council said the parish plan had no weight, but its consideration would be used, along with local and national policy guidelines when determining any applications.
By Paul Cook
19 December 2008
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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