September 14, 2006
U.K.
U.K.
A public inquiry will be held into plans to build a controversial wind farm.
A Government-appointed planning inspector will look into the proposals for the site on the A14 at Boxworth and Conington, starting on October 17.
Mike Barnard, of the Stop Cambridge Wind Farm action group said: “The A14 is already a major problem and putting such a big distraction nearby is ludicrous.
The wind farms are noisy and an eyesore.
“We’re not opposed to wind farms and we recognise a need for renewable energy, but this is a completely inappropriate site for it.
“We just hope the planning inspectorate will come to the same conclusion as every sensible person has done so far.”
More than £30,000 has been raised by the action group, which includes 1,650 members, for a barrister to represent their views at the meeting.
The inquiry follows an appeal from London-based firm Your Energy, whose plans for the energy-creating development were thrown out by South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) last year.
James Townsend, development manager at Your Energy, said: “We’ve carried out all the studies and compiled all the reports to give us the confidence that the wind farm created near the A14 will not cause a distraction to drivers.
“We’ve also carried out research verifying that noise will not be a problem in the area “The wind farm will provide enough green, renewable and clean energy to supply 32 per cent of homes in south Cambridgeshire. If we’re going to be serious about renewable energy, we’ve also got to be serious about wind power.”
Your Energy had its plans to build the wind farm quashed in April 2005 when SCDC rejected its proposals.
The firm immediately launched a fight to overturn the decision and lodged an appeal to the Secretary of State, but the start date for an inquiry was set back by a request for more information on potential noise.
Last month, the number of proposed turbines was reduced from 16 to 15.
The inquiry could last two weeks, with a further seven-week wait for a report of the findings.
The inquiry will be held at 10am at the Council Offices, South Cambridgeshire Hall, Cambourne Business Park, Cambourne.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2006/09/14/date-is-fixed-for-wind-farm-probe/