February 23, 2007
U.K.
U.K.
BERNARD Matthews wants to build two wind turbines at its Holton site to provide power to run the units there.
It is alongside plans to have two turbines at each of its sites, the others being at North Pickenham, near Swaffham, and Weston Longville, near Norwich.
The company says they all have the potential to generate energy from the wind and it wants to help the UK increase its share of renewable power.
The poultry producer is still reeling from a 40pc drop in sales following the recent outbreak of bird flu at its farm in Holton and has temporarily laid off 130 workers from its factories in Great Witchingham.
But the plan for Weston Longville suffered a setback yesterday when Broadland District Council asked the company to resite a proposed mast to test wind speeds on the site at The Old Airfield.
A spokesman for Bernard Matthews said it wanted to work with local communities in establishing the turbines.
He said: “These sites have also been carefully selected due to their secluded locations to avoid any inconvenience to local inhabitants and the surrounding environment.
“Planning permission is being sought by Bernard Matthews to build a 50-metre high monitoring unit on each site to evaluate the levels of wind.
“If it is found to be viable to run wind turbines at any of the sites, it would be our intention to apply for full planning permission for two turbines.”
Members at Broadland District Council planning committee deferred making a decision on the Weston Longville test mast, asking the company to resite it in a location on the land where it would be better screened.
22 February 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/02/23/turbine-plan-for-turkey-plant/