August 24, 2006
U.K.
U.K.
An action group from the Mendip area has offered help to a group of protestors fighting an appeal against a firm which wants to site five wind turbines near Brent Knoll.
Christopher Booker, chair of Chewton Against Rural Turbines (CHART), fought against an application for one turbine near Chewton Mendip.
Protestors won the first stage of the battle which saw Mendip District Council throw out the plans.
But Ecotricity appealed against the decision and was eventually given permission to install its turbine.
Mr Booker believes the same thing could happen in Brent Knoll and all over Somerset and is pledging to help kNOll to Windfarm in any way he can.
He said: “I’ve been in touch with the group. Its members are pretty clued up but we will help them in any way we can. We are backing them 100 per cent.
“The problem we had was that, at our appeal, an inspector came down from London. It didn’t matter what arguments we threw at him, he said Somerset had targets and it wasn’t meeting them and the turbine must go ahead.
“I fear that may be the problem Brent Knoll will have as well. My real fear for Somerset is that firms are going to cover the countryside with these things. It’s happening in parts of Wales and Scotland.
“I’m very fond of Brent Knoll. I think the turbines are a terrible idea. I can see the knoll from where I live and to site five turbines there is going to be deeply offensive.”
After the controversial plans for Inner Farm near Brent Knoll were thrown out last week, Ecotricity bosses confirmed they will appeal and were confident of victory.
Andrew Manning, spokesman for action group kNOll to Windfarm, said he is now preparing to fight the appeal. He said he was grateful to CHART for its offer of help.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2006/08/24/mendip-group-backs-wind-farm-protest/