November 21, 2006
U.K.

Peer rejects wind turbine plea

A Suffolk peer has rejected a request from a wind farm company to allow stretches of ancient hedgerow to be cut to allow the delivery of turbines.

Your Energy approached Lord Marlesford, whose land lies between the A12 and the village of Parham where six 100-metre high turbines are due to be constructed next year.

The peer said the company had offered him compensation if he would agree to hedges being cut but he turned it down.

“I told them that Marlesford is not for sale,” he said yesterday.

Your Energy intends to bring the turbine parts along the A12 and then to route them cross-country to Parham Airfield.

However, the narrowness of the country lanes means that the journey may be difficult.

Lord Marlesford, who is chairman of Marlesford Parish Council, said he felt that if the parts could not be delivered by road then the company would have to bring them in by helicopter.

“I was not prepared to agree to their request. I was offered compensation but I told them that Marlesford is not for sale,” he said.

The peer said he was later contacted by the company and told that the potential problem had been overcome.

Colin Hart, district councillor for Parham and other villages, said the wind energy firm had told planners last year that there would be no problem in getting the turbine parts to the site.

He was already concerned to hear the recent disclosure that the final design of the turbines had not been decided.

“If they are bigger than those for which planning permission was granted I will insist that the district council calls for a new application to be submitted,” he added.

A spokesman for Your Energy said: “The construction management company is currently working on preparation work for the wind farm and it is looking at a number of options concerning access to the site.

“Some landowners have been contacted but it is certainly not the intention to remove any trees or hedgerows and the company will respect all conservation areas.”

The Parham wind farm project is fiercely opposed by some residents living in the area.

The No Windfarm at Parham protest group has criticised Suffolk Coastal District Council’s decision to grant planning permission and has accused the authority of not being sufficiently rigorous in the drawing up of conditions.

By David Green

eadt.co.uk


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2006/11/21/peer-rejects-wind-turbine-plea/