‘We don’t want giant windfarm”  

Credit:  Milton Keynes Citizen, www.miltonkeynes.co.uk 5 August 2011 ~~

Plans to build 15 huge wind turbines in Salcey Forest have been met with strong resistance from local villagers.

More than 150 residents from Hanslope, Stoke Goldington, Tathall End, Gayhurst and Ravenstone were joined by residents of Castlethorpe and Hartwell at a public meeting to view detailed plans and to learn more about the impact the wind turbine development would have on the area and the environment.

Salcey Forest, north of Milton Keynes, is a popular destination for walkers, who can do a ‘tree top walk’ to admire the scenery from a great height.

The meeting was organised by members of the Save Our Salcey campaign, set up by residents keen to fight the plans submitted to Milton Keynes Council by energy firm Ecotricity.

The plans were initially submitted at the end of June.

Residents are concerned about noise pollution as the turbines would create noise day and night, as well as the visual impact on the landscape.

“We accept the need to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions, but these wind turbines are enormous and operate at low levels of efficiency,” said the group’s chair Ian Allen.

“If this proposal is allowed to go ahead, it would result in the industrialisation of a large rural area next to Salcey Forest, which is a site of special scientific interest.

“It would damage the landscape permanently.”

Derek Beevor from Stoke Goldington, a member of the Save Our Salcey committee. added: “Developers have already built wind turbines at Petsoe End, and there are plans for more at Haversham, Alderton and near Hartwell.

“Add the 15 additional proposals now in the pipeline for wind factories in the region and soon there will be no unspoilt landscape left.

“There are plans for nearly 160 wind turbines in our region.

“In every direction, you would see only wind turbines.”

For more information on the campaign, visit www.saveoursalcey.com