| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Opponents condemn consultation exercise
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
The campaign group set up to stop Norfolk’s latest windfarm from being built on their doorstep described a consultation exercise in their village as “a complete sham”.
Leaders of Showt (Stop Hempnall’s Onshore Wind Turbines) said that the Diss-based company wanting to build seven 130m turbines on the edge of the south Norfolk village had failed to advertise the exercise widely enough.
Notices of the exercise had appeared in two shop windows and on three posts in the village, but contained no branding for Enertrag UK – and only 150 residents turned up.
David Lindley, manager of projects for Enertrag UK, apologised for the lack of communication but promised villagers that Thursday’s exercise was just the start of a six-month consultation process.
He said that representatives would leafleting every house in Hempnall, Woodton, Saxlingham Nethergate and Shotesham in the next few weeks, before holding a further exhibition in Hempnall before the consultation period ends on March 31.
“We want to listen to people,” said Mr Lindley. “If the vast majority of the people are against this then we will take that into account before deciding whether to press ahead with this project.
“It is understandable that people are scared of change. This windfarm would change things here, but for the right reasons. I hope that by presenting the facts we will win everyone around.”
Enertrag spokesman Terry Chapelow added: “It was refreshing to hear that many residents were open minded and were still considering all the facts regarding the proposal before they made their mind up.”
District councillor Michael Windridge said: “The purpose of Enertrag’s visit to Hempnall last week was to bring reassurance to local villagers that the company’s controversial seven-turbine wind station development is nothing to worry about.
“Judging from the reactions of the minority of residents who managed to see the exhibition real concerns about these huge turbines producing unwelcome noise, flicker, and harmful visual intrusion on the rural landscape have actually increased.
“Enertrag was also unable to dispel continuing worries about the short-term impact on property prices should a proposed development of this scale be approved.”
And chairman of Showt Geoff Moulton said: “Only a handful of Hempnall residents have been made aware of Enertrag’s visit. Its so-called community consultation exercise is a complete sham.”
Enertrag is currently performing an environmental assessment of the site – if it passes noise, shadow flicker, wildlife, landscape and electromagnetic tests a planning application will be prepared in September and the result known next January.
This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.
| Wind Watch relies entirely on User Funding |
 (via Paypal) |
 (via Stripe) |
Share:
[ Short URL: https://wind-watch.org/news/?p=2605 ]
